“The historic Chicago landmark First Church of Deliverance was awarded a $500,000 grant by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the organization announced Tuesday.
“The grant builds on the Bronzeville church’s $150,000 grant, which was awarded by the National Trust in July.
“The latest funding for the landmark at 4315 S. Wabash Ave. — one of the city’s few examples of streamline Art Moderne architecture — was part of the National Trust’s annual National Fund for Sacred Places program. The program provided $8.73 million in financial assistance to 30 historic and architecturally significant faith communities nationwide, including the First Church of Deliverance.
“The grant will be used to restore the church’s stained glass windows and iconic twin towers, First Church of Deliverance Project Coordinator Marcella Thomas said.
“The church was built in 1939 and designed by Walter T. Bailey, the first licensed Black architect in Illinois. With the help of structural engineer Charles Sumner Duke, Bailey converted a one-story hat factory into the two-story church.
“Now, with the help of grants, it’s set to undergo a second phase of restoration.
“Phase one began with a $228,000 grant in 2019 from the Chicago Department of Planning and Development’s Adopt-a-Landmark fund. This included restoring the church’s facade and oak front doors.
“Phase two will include the restoration of the stained glass windows and towers, as well as assessing work that needs to be done for the church’s campus.” (Rush, Chicago Sun-Times, 10/22/25)
Designed by Walter T. Bailey in 1939, Illinois’ first licensed African-American architect, First Church of Deliverance was designated a Chicago Landmark in 1994 making it eligible for Adopt-a-Landmark funds. The 2019 renovation restored the building’s terra cotta façade, doors, and the interior murals painted by Chicago-based artist Fred Jones.
The First Church of Deliverance played a significant role in the history of gospel music. Since the 1940s, its gospel music broadcasts established it as an important national center for the growth and innovation of this musical genre. Over the years, gospel and jazz music legends including Louis Armstrong, Dinah Washington and Sallie Martin performed at the church for its nationally syndicated Gospel radio program
Chicago is experiencing an extraordinary construction boom with record-breaking levels of new construction and investment. Preservation Chicago applauds the City of Chicago and its efforts to divert a portion of the massive capital investments in downtown super tall projects to Chicago Landmarks in the neighborhoods through the Adopt-a-Landmark Fund.
This a powerful, successful, and effective tool to help all of Chicago to move forward together and to provide much-needed renovation funds to important Chicago Landmarks located in the neighborhoods and underserved communities. The hope is that these funds will continue to flow into the neighborhoods to help restore Chicago Landmarks suffering from years of deferred maintenance. Preservation Chicago encourages owners of Chicago Landmark buildings to nominate their landmarks to this Adopt-a-Landmark program.
Read the full story at Chicago Sun-Times
- First Church of Deliverance plans restoration with $500,000 grant; The historic Bronzeville church received a matching grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Mariah Rush, Chicago Sun-Times, 10/22/25
- Grant boosts preservation efforts of landmark First Church of Deliverance; The $150,000 grant will help the 86-year-old Bronzeville church — a popular spot on architecture tours — develop its first comprehensive preservation plan, Lee Bey, Chicago Sun-Times, 7/25/25
- The Bold Architecture of Chicago’s Black Churches, Daniel Hautzinger, WTTW Chicago, 11/19/20