Preserving Black Churches: New Jerusalem Baptist in Tulsa Receives $200,000 Grant

New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, affectionately known as 'New J,' has received a $200,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation's African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund's Preserving Black Churches program. The grant will be matched with an additional $200,000 raised by the church to create an endowment for building preservation.

The church was founded in 1957 in the aftermath of the Tulsa race massacre and during urban renewal policies that displaced African American families. It is now located in a community once divided by a highway built over what was Black Wall Street.

Pastor Sean Jarrett discussed the significance of the grant: 'Our church was founded in 1957 after the Tulsa race massacre and during urban renewal policies that displaced African American families. The grant enables us to preserve the building while addressing community needs.'

Jarrett emphasized the broader role of Black churches in American society: 'The Black church has historically been a haven for African Americans excluded from white congregations, offering dignity and survival. Today, it remains a cornerstone of Black land ownership and community support.'

In 2026, the Preserving Black Churches program awarded $13.5 million in preservation funding, including $8.5 million in grants to 33 historically Black churches. This represents one of the program's most significant commitments to date, supporting over 170 historically Black churches with a total of almost $34 million since its inception. Other notable recipients include Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, and Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia.