MINNEAPOLIS — With a steeple seen from blocks away, Calvary Baptist Church is the tallest building in Minneapolis' Whittier neighborhood.
And in this community where more than 40 percent of residents are people of color and almost 30 percent of residents live below the poverty line, Senior Pastor Jeff Cowmeadow says the church is more than a church.
"Calvary's been a community hub for so many years, from AA meetings to meals for the street community to mental health support, after school programs, a commercial kitchen helping businesses get launched," Cowmeadow said. "It's a part of the core philosophy of our church that this building is not ours. It belongs to the community."
Every week, around 400 people who aren't part of the congregation come to the building. Since 1990, the church has invested $1.5 million to renovate the interior and keep up with the activity inside. However, outside, not much has been done. In fact, the steeple is the original steeple from 1883.
"Our iconic steeple is in massive need at the top," Cowmeadow said. "Our sheet metal is coming off. Tuckpointing needs to be done."
On top of that, he says some roofing and other exterior work is needed.
Out of around 800 applicants, Calvary is one of just 16 churches selected for a $200,000 grant from the National Fund for Sacred Places. However, Cowmeadow says in order to unlock those funds, the church needs to raise at least $400,000.
That's why Calvary last week launched a campaign to raise $1 million by 2026 to ensure all of the exterior work can be done. So far, the congregation has raised $240,000 from elders and lead donors.
"When I see new renditions of how it's going to be lit, a completely restored, beautiful silent hand reaching to the Heavens telling us, you know, to look up, I'm excited. I think our congregation is excited," Cowmeadow said. "Our hope is, is that our neighborhood and Minneapolis will be excited because it's, you know, it's a historic place and, you know, I've been here 38 years but think of how many people over 140 years have somehow intersected on 26th and Blaisdell."
"And so we're launching this major capital campaign and inviting the community to be a part of it."
Work on the iconic steeple is set to begin in spring 2024. Donations can be made online.
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