As the holiday season enters its final busy weeks, historic churches and religious buildings have a special draw to visitors, says Stephanie Meeks, president and chief executive officer of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “This history is really important to us, especially at this time of year. It reminds us where we all have come from and the challenges that we’ve overcome in the past.” The Trust recently joined with the national group Partners for Sacred Places to help restore threatened religious buildings (fundforsacredplaces.org). Meeks shares some notable sites with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.
U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel
Colorado Springs
While this modern design was controversial when completed in 1962, it’s now embraced as a national landmark. The 150-foot-tall aluminum, glass and steel structure has separate chapels for Protestant, Catholic, Jewish and Buddhist worship, plus an all-faiths room used by Muslim cadets. Designed by Walter Netsch of the famed firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, “its soaring Modernist architecture is certainly worth a visit,” says Meeks. usafa.af.mil
Sacred Heart Parish
El Paso
Jesuit priests have continuously staffed this congregation since its founding 120 years ago. The present church, completed in 1929, was built to serve 2,000 worshipers, spurred by an influx of Mexican refugees during a period of religious persecution. sacredheartelpaso.org
Touro Synagogue
Newport, R.I.
The nation’s oldest standing synagogue building is celebrated for the letter George Washington wrote to its congregants in 1790, assuring the Jewish community that the new country would welcome all faiths. “This stands as a symbol of religious freedom for all Americans,” Meeks says. The 1763 building is open for tours on Sundays only, through April. tourosynagogue.org
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USA Today Lists 10 Great American Churches and Religious Sites to Visit This Holiday Season was originally published on praisecleveland.com
