Historic chapel of Grace, Port Orange | Photo: Courtesy Grace, Port Orange

Grace, Port Orange, has received an $89,000 matching grant from the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, to restore its historic chapel.

Tinny Ryder wrote the grant, with contributions from Bobbi and John Palmer, Kimberly Mansfield, Hal Read, Lynda Moore, Glenda Coursen and all of the church’s parishioners.

“I am thankful for Tinny,” said the Rev. Gary Jackson, rector of Grace. “I am thankful for the dedicated group of lay leaders who are getting things done for the sake of Christ and God’s kingdom.”

Parish bookkeeper Kimberly Mansfield found the grant. “She is constantly looking for funds to help us carry out our missions,” explained Ryder. “She’s been able to get us several grants. Kimberly gave me the contact information, and I ran with it.”

The funds are for outdoor renovations. The list includes replacing the rotting bell tower and any other eroding wood workers may find during the project, resealing the windows and repairing the stone steps around the chapel leading to the memorial gardens. “Because the chapel is on the National Historic Record, we can only make improvements outside,” Ryder said. “We’re not going to change any features on the chapel.”

The Carpenter Gothic chapel dates back to 1893 when the Meeker family, who owned most of the land in Port Orange, donated the lot. “It is the oldest building in Port Orange and is used weekly for worship,” Ryder said. “The baptismal font and pews are original to the structure and are cypress. We’re hoping to source more cypress for the repairs to the bell tower.”

The Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, provides state funds for historic preservation. The purpose of this program is to provide funding to assist local, regional and statewide efforts to preserve significant historic and archaeological resources, assist major archaeological excavations or research projects, and assist in the development and fabrication of major museum exhibits.

Grace received a Special Category Grant for a development project, intended for the preservation, restoration, rehabilitation or reconstruction of historic properties regularly open to the public. Site-specific planning is mandatory for these activities, such as structural or condition assessment reports. Historic religious property development is limited to building exteriors, excluding accessibility upgrades and structural elements. Grace has two years to complete the work, and the grantor must approve architects and general contractors. The church has hired an architect and is seeking a general contractor.

Investments and endowments provided the $89,000 matching funds. “Thanks to the good stewardship of past generations, we have the funds,” Jackson said.

He is pleased and excited about the restoration. “Initially, I was skeptical and doubted the state would award us money for this purpose,” he said. “I was surprised by God’s grace and providence. It revealed to me that if you do not ask, you will not receive.”

The funding process has taken two years. “The whole process was done online,” Ryder said. “I started the application in April 2023 to receive funding in fiscal year 2025. We were one of 45 organizations considered for funding and invited to the webinar open meeting. The state had $12 million to spend on these projects this year. In June, I received an email saying we had been funded.”

Ryder will serve as the project administrator. She will keep everyone apprised of the progress and ensure everything on the list is completed. “I’m so excited to be part of this project and to see everything up to date and fixed,” she said.

“Grace still stands tall as a reminder of the Lord’s presence in Port Orange,” Jackson said. “There have been many, many hurricanes, yet the chapel is still here.”

Parishes wishing to apply for similar grants should visit https://dos.fl.gov/historical/grants.