Grants awarded to help preserve historic Selma church

From the West Alabama Newsroom–

Tabernacle Baptist Church in Selma — receives two grants to help preserve the church and its rich history.

The roof of the church — including the iconic dome — was damaged last year when an EF-2 tornado ripped through the city.

Now the church has the funds needed to replace both — after being awarded a $150,000 — from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and $600,000 from the National Park Service.

“We will be able to completely replace our roof,” said Dr. Verdell Lett Dawson.

Tabernacle Baptist Church — was the site of the first mass meeting of the Voting Rights Movement in 1963. Built in 1922, the actual church building itself — is historic as well.

“It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places,” said Dawson. “And it is historic because it was constructed by a formerly enslaved man, but also a self-taught architect, who was a deacon here in the church. His name is David T. West.”

“It’s just amazing to see a building that’s built in 1922 that still leaves you in awe a hundred and one plus years later,” said Rev. Otis D. Culliver.

Culliver says preserving the church and its history is important.

“We must tell the stories. We must have places where people can come, and not just here the story but experience the story, ” he said.

The project is expected to get started some time in the spring.