A woman speaking on stage inside a church, with a group of children and adults seated on the floor and in pews, and a man sitting on a staircase to the right.

Restoring our historic building - from the lower level to the bell tower.

We're building a brighter future for our congregation's next 100 years!

Banner with the words "Hope Rises" and an illustration of a tall building or skyscraper between the words.

Our Progress
$3.1M Raised

Updated: 6 Aug 2024

Hope Rises Capital Campaign

For more than 200 years, All Souls has stood tall as a progressive religious center from which movements for justice and liberation have helped shape Washington, DC, Unitarian Universalism and the nation. It is a place where so many have found acceptance, inspiration and joy. All Souls is a beacon in the community, a place where Hope Rises, and it needs urgent repair.

Over the past several months the Executive Team and many lay leaders have been hard at work planning to address these issues, starting with the religious education classrooms impacted by long term water infiltration into the building. From the lower level to the bell tower, our historic building needs some TLC.

The repairs will be expensive. We have secured grant funding to begin the repairs but not nearly enough to complete them.

This video, created by staff member Solomon Teklemicael and church member Anna Jhirard, show the importance of the Hope Rises campaign to the history and future of All Souls Church. 

It is an intersection of our rich history and social justice efforts, creating the path forward for our youngest members of the congregation.

Our campaign consultants, Rev. Roberta and Barry Finkelstein, conducted interviews with a number of members and congregants from All Souls as part of a feasibility study to determine what support might be available to support this capital campaign. Their report concludes: “We can do this!”

Our goal is to raise $4M-$5M to cover the cost of the repairs, and your vote is needed to move ahead with the capital campaign.

The congregation overwhelming voted to approve the capital campaign. Please join us after service on Sunday, February 25, 2024 for a celebratory lunch in Pierce Hall as we officially kick-off Hope Rises and our Annual Pledge Drive. 

Hope Rises requires the support of everyone, and several committees of volunteer leaders are already involved:

  • Anna Hargrave, Co-Chair

    Jeff Wilklow, Co-Chair

    Tod Preston

    Charlotte Selton

    Chuck Wooldridge

    Rev. Bill Sinkford, staff

    Traci Hughes, staff

  • Pam Amos

    Chuck Belser

    Jason Mellen

    Brian Petruska

    Meg Staines

    Solomon Teklemicael, staff

    Traci Hughes, staff

  • Brian Petruska, Treasurer

    Phyllis Caldwell

    Jason Mellen

    G. Taylor Johnson

    Jerome Adler

    Traci Hughes, staff

People gathered inside a church with white benches, some standing and raising their hands in worship, facing a stage with three children and a few adults, with large screens displaying song lyrics on either side, and a chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

Image of the congregation in the Sanctuary standing while the children's choir stands at the front.

What Needs to be Done

Stop the Water Damage

Preserve RE Spaces and Rental Income by mitigating the water and repairing the damage caused.

New landscaping in courtyard after the water mitigation work is completed.

Repair the Bell Tower

The 2011 Earthquake caused damage to the Bell Tower which needs to be repaired before the netting can be taken down. 

Safety Repairs

The Sanctuary Electrical System needs to be upgraded to avoid future hazards, and other work needs to be done to make the All Souls building a safer location.

Pay Off Mortgage from Last Campaign

The mortgage from our previous construction work comes due in 2026. If we pay off the loan, it will allow the church to avoid future interest payments.

A damaged wall with peeling paint, cracks, and water stains, in a building interior.

Water infiltration has caused damage to some of our CYRE spaces, including mold.

A brick church building with a tall clock tower, columns at the entrance, and an inscription reading 'All Souls Church Unitarian'. The building has decorative elements and is set against a clear blue sky, with trees in the foreground.

Damage from the 2011 earthquake required netting to be placed around the tower.

“We affirm the power of Love to heal what is broken, to hold us together across pluralities of diverse religious practices and beliefs, to hold us when things fall apart, to grow our capacities, and to guide us as we return again and again in our families and communities to side with Love.”
— Rev. Dr. Sheri Prud’homme