First Congregational Church in downtown Columbus is underway with a $1 million preservation project focused on protecting key parts of the historic property, including its stone masonry, front steps, and stained glass windows.
According to a release from the church, funding for the work comes from donations, nonprofit grants, and fundraising by congregants. The National Fund for Sacred Places, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the Columbus Foundation are contributing $600,000 toward the effort, with church members and community partners raising the rest.
Church moderator Sarah Reed said the work is tied to more than the building materials themselves, pointing to the site’s role in Columbus history and the congregation’s long-running social justice work.
The church, a towering Gothic stone building on East Broad Street, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While the congregation’s roots date back to the Civil War era, the current building was constructed in 1931. It was designed by architect John Russell Pope, whose work also includes the Jefferson Memorial, the National Archives, and the West Building of the National Gallery of Art.
The church sits between the Columbus Museum of Art and Washington Gladden Social Justice Park, named for a pastor who served from 1882 to 1918 and helped shape the congregation’s advocacy for civil rights, workers’ rights, voting rights, and more.
For mason contractors and restoration teams, projects like this keep the focus on coordination and protection. Stone masonry scope, access, and sequencing matter when work touches entry steps and fragile architectural elements like stained glass. Close collaboration with the architect and clear site logistics help keep preservation work moving without avoidable damage or rework.
The release said work is being completed by Berglund Construction under the supervision of the Schooley Caldwell architectural firm.
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