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Coldwater Presbyterian committee asks commission for grant support to restore 1869 church steeple
Summary
Paul, representing the Coldwater Presbyterian Church’s Save the Steeple project, told the Historic District Commission the church needs community donations and grant support to complete a three‑phase steeple restoration after a Preservation Forward assessment; staff agreed to draft a letter of support.
Paul, representing the Coldwater Presbyterian Church and the Save the Steeple project, asked the Coldwater Downtown Historic District Commission on July 8 to back a multi‑stage plan to repair and restore the church’s 1869 steeple.
Paul said Preservation Forward (principal Jessica Flores) completed a study recommending three work phases: initial pointing and limited interior repairs, exterior pointing and bell tower work, and a final recladding of the steeple. He said the congregation used church assets to cover phase‑one costs and is now seeking community fundraising and grant funding to complete later phases.
"We have the petitions…and I want to be able to say that I have 1,000 small‑dollar donations and, you know, 2,000 signatures or something like that," Paul said, describing the kind of community support the group plans to show to grantmakers.
Commissioners asked about structural safety and whether the preservation report and photos had been circulated; Paul and others said prior restoration work addressed structural issues and that photos and the report were available. A planning staff member confirmed the report had been emailed to some members and offered to help with documentation.
A planning staff member told the commission it could draft a letter of support. "I can't remember if we did it on the HDC's behalf, but certainly can make sure we draft one up too," the staff member said, offering operational assistance for grant applications. Other commissioners volunteered to help with outreach and for the commission to provide visible support during the grant‑writing phase.
The group discussed practical fundraising tools: a Facebook page identified in the meeting as "Save the People's Steeple, Coldwater, 1st Presbyterian," QR codes on posters, Venmo for small donations, and distributing printed cards at community events such as Strawberry Fest. Paul said the team is compiling lists of grant programs and deadlines so applications can be prepared in advance.
The commission did not take a formal vote on funding; members agreed to follow up, and staff said they would draft a letter of support and help coordinate next steps for grant‑writing and documentation.
The commission moved on to other agenda items after the discussion.
