Bellefonte Church Seeks Funds to Repair Last Historic Steeple

St. John's Episcopal Church applies for grant to restore 155-year-old steeple damaged in storm

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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St. John's Episcopal Church in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania is seeking financial support to repair the damage to its historic steeple, which is the last remaining original steeple in the borough. The church is applying for a $100,000 Keystone Historic Preservation Construction Grant to cover the estimated $200,000 in repairs needed after a rare derecho storm hit the area last April.

Why it matters

The St. John's Episcopal Church steeple is a key part of Bellefonte's Victorian heritage and historic downtown district. As the last original steeple left in the borough, preserving this landmark is important for maintaining the character and history of the community.

The details

The steeple damage includes several curled shingles, a broken cross, and deteriorated wood, stone and metal parts. Due to the historic nature of the church, a specialized steeplejack must be hired to oversee the repairs, rather than a regular engineer. The church is actively seeking quotes from steeple repair experts and plans to apply for additional state and federal grants to cover the full cost of the restoration.

  • The steeple was damaged in a rare derecho storm that hit the area in April 2025.
  • The church must wait until at least June 2026 to find out if they have been awarded the $100,000 Keystone Historic Preservation Construction Grant.
  • If the grant is awarded, the project must start by September 1, 2026 and be completed by September 30, 2028 at the latest.

The players

St. John's Episcopal Church

A historic church in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania that is seeking funding to repair the damage to its 155-year-old steeple, which is the last remaining original steeple in the borough.

Rev. Ruth Ferguson

The reverend at St. John's Episcopal Church who spoke at the Centre County Commissioners' meeting to request a letter of support for the church's grant application.

Sze Wing Yu

The head of the grant committee at St. John's Episcopal Church who provided details on the steeple damage and repair plans.

Mark Higgins

A Centre County Commissioner who expressed support for preserving the historic steeple at St. John's Episcopal Church.

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What they’re saying

“Our steeple, which is the last historic steeple that's left in Bellefonte — I think there were nine at one point — but it needs repair that is above and beyond what your average parishioner can pledge to cover, unfortunately.”

— Rev. Ruth Ferguson, Reverend (centredaily.com)

“It's important to do this kind of preventative maintenance stuff now rather than let it keep deteriorating.”

— Sze Wing Yu, Grant Committee Head (centredaily.com)

“It is a beautiful church, and I've visited it several times there in downtown Bellefonte.”

— Mark Higgins, Commissioner (centredaily.com)

What’s next

The church must wait until at least June 2026 to find out if they have been awarded the $100,000 Keystone Historic Preservation Construction Grant. If the funding is approved, the project must start by September 1, 2026 and be completed by September 30, 2028 at the latest.

The takeaway

Preserving the historic steeple at St. John's Episcopal Church is crucial for maintaining the character and Victorian heritage of Bellefonte's downtown district. This case highlights the challenges small congregations can face in funding the upkeep of aging but architecturally significant buildings, and the importance of community support and grant programs to help protect local landmarks.