News & Announcements
First and Franklin Presbyterian Church awarded a 2023 Envision Grant
April 30, 2023
The Envision Board announced 2023 grant recipients, investing $85,000 in Baltimore County and international partners. These Envision grants are intended to provide seed money for projects that will enrich the ministry and life of the church.
The projects funded serve a wide variety of people, from within our congregation to broader local, national, and international communities. Grant proposals are evaluated in the categories of ministry development, service in community, social justice/advocacy, and capital improvement.
The Board is grateful to God for the life and witness of Robert Riley—whose generous bequest to Catonsville Presbyterian Church was used to establish this endowment—as well as the Session, Finance Committee, church staff, and the entire congregation, all of whom make these awards possible.
With great joy and support, the Envision Board has awarded a grant of $20,000 to First & Franklin Presbyterian Church. The Board determined that this project faithfully follows God’s mission to the church through social justice and service in community.
First & Franklin Presbyterian Church has a rich history of over 160 years in ministry. Its historic structure requires careful renovations to preserve its legacy while honoring its future. First & Franklin has only one first-floor bathroom and it is too narrow to be used for any individuals with physical disabilities or limited mobility. This project will use its grant to make the church’s meeting spaces, main sanctuary, and the Reid Chapel accessible to persons with disabilities by adding an ADA-compliant bathroom. The Reid Chapel, adjacent to the main sanctuary, is used for many functions during the year. It is a food pantry; meeting place for Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and AIDS Action Baltimore meetings; the staging area for the Guns to Gardens gun buyback program; a space for Bible studies; a concert venue; an art gallery; the dressing area for weddings and funerals; a space for refreshments after services; an Alternative Christmas market; and the space for community meetings such as the Mount Vernon Belvedere Association.
This grant was submitted by Dave Pierson and sponsored by Greg Mayes.