Ward Chapel — Current progress

Fundraising began in April, 2021 for Ward Chapel. The main concerns have always been to 1) protect the structure, unused since 2011, from any further weather and water damage and 2) raise necessary funds to stabilize the masonry, rebuild a new roof, and waterproof the envelope of the building so that interior work can be done.

Portions of the roof had collapsed, exposing the sanctuary, so the first grant we applied for and received in 2021 was $2500 from Illinois Humanities to place a durable tarp over the worst section of the roof. Our latest grant at the end of 2024, from the NPS Lower Mississippi Delta, was for $25,000. It’s purpose was the same song, second verse: to further strengthen and stabilize the current roof from further damage while waiting for future funding to fully replace the roof.