Churches define our New Hampshire communities, but unless they can find new audiences to use and care for their historic buildings, some of these places may not be with us much longer.  That's the prediction from the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, which works with faith-based groups around the state to promote creative ways to fill their buildings with audiences that will, in turn, help them maintain these precious spaces.

The First Methodist Church in Claremont will host an upcoming workshop on this topic on Wednesday, June 24th from  9:15 am to 4:30 pm.  Leaders from Claremont area congregations and other groups are invited to participate. 

Partners for Sacred Places, a national organization based in Philadelphia, will lead the workshop, with Tuomi Forrest, Associate Director, presenting their nationally-acclaimed program on ways to save and/or adaptively re-use historic churches.

Partners for Sacred Places is the only national, non-sectarian, non-profit organization dedicated to the sound stewardship and active community use of America's older religious properties.  Partners provides assistance to the people who care for sacred places while promoting a new understanding of how these places sustain communities.

Nancy Merrill, Business Development Coordinator, City of Claremont will also speak to the group, discussing the economic forces at work in the city and around the state, and how civic activities affect that mix.

Forrest will lead participants through a process of identifying new partnerships and other opportunities using a model developed by Luther K. Snow in his book, The Power of Asset Mapping: How your Congregation Can Act on Its Gifts.

Register by calling the N.H. Preservation Alliance at 603-224-2281 or emailing Maggie Stier at ms@nhpreservation.org.  Cost for this workshop is $30 for one and $15 for each additional person from the same property.  At least two people associated with each faith-based group are encouraged to attend.  Lunch is included and financial assistance is available.

The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance is the statewide membership organization dedicated to preserving historic buildings, communities and landscapes through leadership, education and advocacy. Current priorities include providing assistance to community leaders and promoting effective weatherization, community-centered schools, barn preservation and preservation as "the original green". More at www.nhpreservation.org. Supporters for its Field Service program include Public Service of New Hampshire, the Daniel K. Thorne Foundation, the Otto Fund of the N.H. Charitable Foundation and other businesses and individuals.