The Cathedral Guadalupe now may be in its most vulnerable state. Its bare sanctuary floors reveal a sacred place that is humble and simple in an otherwise exuberant building. Constructed as Sacred Heart Cathedral (initiated in 1896--completed in 1902), the sanctuary is now under restoration allowing an architectural experience perhaps never before available.

The current restoration of the Cathedral is a textbook study of preservation strategies and challenges. it is only one of hundreds of local sacred places that are in need of assistance. Sacred places typically provide context to our neighborhoods and are often pivotal community elements. When they lose members, or are in disrepair, the local are often follows suit. Despite the close association of sacred places with our personal lives and beliefs, churches, temples and cemeteries are amongst our most threatened resources. Few of these places are blessed with enough funds to initiage restoration or even sustain the demands of ordinary maintenance. With the lack of funds, some sacred places are sold and undergo hideous rehabilitations while others are treated more kindly. You can contrast Howard Meyer's Tiferet Israel Synagogue (1938) on Grand Avenue with St. James AME (1921) on Good Latimer to see the difference.

Our sacred places cannot be undervalued. Raising funds for preservation is an ongoing challenge as are the demands of spiritual use, and when necessary, options for reuse. A national organization focused on supporting the preservation of sacred places is Partners for Sacred Places based in Philadelphia.

We have progress with the preservation of significant sacred buildings. For example, Grace United Methodist Church received a preservation award in 2003 for its restoration efforts while the Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church (1941) at 919 Morrell Street is soon to the be city's newest Historic Landmark. Preservation Dallas works with congregations to encourage preservation of local sacred landmarks. Let us know if you are aware of threats to historic sacred places in Dallas.

W. Dwayne Jones,
Executive Director
January 3, 2004