2025 Webinar: Stewardship of Historic Churches
Thursday, October 9, 2025
Sponsored by:
Morning Session: Defining the Needs
9:00–9:15am
Welcome/Introductions
Bishop Harris joined the Diocese of Virginia as Assistant Bishop in 2023. She was previously elected Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Massachusetts in June 2002 and was ordained and consecrated in January 2003.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Bishop Harris was the first Black woman to receive a Master of Divinity degree from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, California. She was ordained to the priesthood in 1982 in the Diocese of Newark (New Jersey), where she served as Assistant to the Vicar at Grace Church (Van Vorst) in Jersey City. She then moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked as Diocesan Urban Resident at St. Philip the Evangelist Church from 1982 to 1984.
She was priest-in-charge of Holy Communion Church from 1984 to 1992, also serving at that time as Nave Clergy at Washington National Cathedral.
Bishop Harris completed service in 2006 as a member of the Joint Nominating Committee for the election of the former Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church. She is a past Vice Chair of the Church Pension Fund Board of Trustees, where she served on the Finance Committee, the Governance Committee, the Executive Committee, the Benefits Policy Committee, and the Social and Fiduciary Responsibility in Investments Committee.
Bishop Harris served on The Episcopal Church’s Task Force on the Theology of Money and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Church Investment Group. Bishop Harris is also the former Convener of the Episcopal Bishops of African Descent.
Mr. Ivey joined ToTF in late 2020, following a 25+ year career in Public Finance where he worked with dozens of nonprofit organizations, electric cooperatives and governmental organizations, advising them on financing options and guiding them through the NY Rating agency process.
Together with the ToTF board, Mr. Ivey oversees the investment of $150,000,000 for Episcopal churches and organizations in Virginia.
9:15–9:30am
Historic Designation: What Does It Mean & Why Does It Matter?
Ms. Langan has worked for the Department for over twenty-five years, in a variety of roles. First appointed as Acting Director by Governor McDonnell, she has been reappointed by Governors McAuliffe, Northam and Youngkin. In this position, Julie manages one of the largest state preservation offices in the country and oversees a dozen state and federal preservation programs.
Langan is an experienced preservation professional and nonprofit administrator; in addition to her state roles, she has held leadership positions with regional and local preservation nonprofits and taught historic preservation at the college level. Throughout her career, she has served on a variety of preservation-related boards and commissions. Ms. Langan has an M.A. in Architectural History from the University of Virginia and a B.A. in Art History from Wheaton College (Massachusetts).
9:30–10:30am
Setting the Stage: Common Challenges
- Building Envelope
- Roof
- Stucco on brick
- Foundations
- Cemeteries and Tombstones
- Water Infiltration:
- Windows/bricks
- Historic Christ Church
- Archeological considerations
Panel:
In 2024 Ms. Whiting joined St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Richmond as Director of Operations. For 25+ years Whiting has worked for nonprofits in the Richmond area including the Valentine Museum, Preservation Virginia, and Historic Richmon Foundation.
Whiting served also Executive Director of St. John’s Church Foundation. Whiting has a background in fundraising, nonprofit management and historic preservation.
Robert Teagle is the Executive Director at the Foundation for Historic Christ Church in Weems, Virginia, where he has worked since 2000. He earned his B.A. in History from the College of William and Mary and M.A. in American History from Virginia Tech.
His research interests include the architectural history of early Virginia, the role of the Church of England and the rise of religious liberty in colonial Virginia, the Carter family, slavery and emancipation, and the history of Christ Church Parish.
Mr. Kirchen oversees a collection of robust programs including the Virginia Landmarks Register, Historic Tax Credits, Preservation Easements, and Section 106 Compliance. He earned a B.S. in Anthropology from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA and an M.A. in Archaeology from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC.
Roger has worked at DHR for 21 years and has over 30 years of cultural resource management experience in both the public and private sectors.
10:30—10:45am
Break
10:45–11:45am
Parish Organization and Resources
- Buildings & Grounds Committee
- Parishioner experience
- Examples in Northern Neck
- Assessments/prioritizing work
- Historic districts & other considerations
Panel:
Eric Litchford manages the Restoration Team and oversees all architectural activity across Preservation Virginia’s museum sites. He previously worked as a preservation specialist at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, and spent time as an intern for the George Washington Foundation in Fredericksburg.
Eric has a bachelor’s degree in historic preservation from the University of Mary Washington where he graduated in 2014. Eric coordinates preventative maintenance at PV historic sites and works closely with the Director of Interpretation and Collections to create educational content for the public.
Rev. Thomas has been Rector of Emmanuel Church, Greenwood, Virginia since 2019, and has served in four other parishes with 100+ year old buildings, and as Head of School at boarding and day school founded in 1868. JT is well acquainted with the original sin of deferred maintenance, and the value of having a plan for building maintenance even and especially where budgets are strained.
JT and his wife, Janice, help tend a really old family farm in King William County, and live in a blessedly newer residence in Nellysford, Virginia.
The Rev. Benjamin P. Campbell is a retired Episcopal priest living in Richmond. He was ordained in 1967 and has spent his entire ministry in the Diocese of Virginia, working both for the church and for several non-profit community organizations, including a time as executive director for Home Base, Inc., a corporation renovating houses for lower income persons.
He is familiar with many of the issues of Trinity Church, Lancaster (1884); Christ Church, Weems (1735); St. Paul’s, Richmond (1845); Richmond Hill (1760); and Christ Ascension, Richmond (1953).
Eric Litchford manages the Restoration Team and oversees all architectural activity across Preservation Virginia’s museum sites. He previously worked as a preservation specialist at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, and spent time as an intern for the George Washington Foundation in Fredericksburg.
Eric has a bachelor’s degree in historic preservation from the University of Mary Washington where he graduated in 2014. Eric coordinates preventative maintenance at PV historic sites and works closely with the Director of Interpretation and Collections to create educational content for the public.
11:45–12:45pm
Lunch Break
Afternoon Session: Advancing & Funding the Work
12:45–1:30pm
Where to Start?
- VDHR ResourcesRegional offices
- Consultants Directory
- Publications and Guidance
- When to engage an architect/engineer
- PV resources: some contract work / budgeting / Emergency mothballing
- PV resources: some contract work / budgeting / Emergency mothballing
- Contractor’s perspective
- Paperwork
Panel:
Mr. Kirchen oversees a collection of robust programs including the Virginia Landmarks Register, Historic Tax Credits, Preservation Easements, and Section 106 Compliance. He earned a B.S. in Anthropology from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA and an M.A. in Archaeology from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC.
Roger has worked at DHR for 21 years and has over 30 years of cultural resource management experience in both the public and private sectors.
Born and raised in Richmond, Will Glasco became interested in Virginia history and culture at a young age. He grew up helping out in his family’s small business but was drawn to the historic port town of Wilmington, North Carolina, attending UNCW. After graduation in 2008 with a degree in Creative Writing, he worked for the American Civil War Museum in Richmond in both the Visitor Services and Development Departments.
Beginning in 2014, he led the Development program at Preservation Virginia, and recently became Chief Executive Officer of the organization. He’s working towards a graduate degree in American History, and volunteers with the Rural Plains Foundation in Hanover and Historic Turkey Run House in Chesterfield. He lives with his wife Kara and sons Finn and Cullan in Hanover County.
Sam has worked on historic renovation projects both as a craftsman and a project manager and brings experience in technical historic preservation methods and project management. He holds two historic preservation degrees: a bachelor’s from the University of Mary Washington and a master’s from the College of Charleston/Clemson University.
Sam manages the development of Dominion’s preservation services and has experience with services such as mortar analysis, building documentation, and building forensics.
1:30–2:30pm
Financial Resources
- Federal and state grant sources
- Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits
- Private Foundations
- National Foundation for Sacred Spaces
- Parish support
- Capital campaign
- Reserve fund
- Setting up Endowment/Foundation
Panel:
Mr. McDonald is a native of Albemarle County now residing in Richmond. He studied architectural history at Connecticut College and the University of Virginia. As the Survey and Grants Specialist for the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, he travels throughout the Commonwealth supporting the stewardship of Virginia’s diverse past.
Prior to his current role, Blake worked in cultural resource management, historic preservation advocacy, and museum education.
Ms. Ugarte has been with the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program for 11 years. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Savannah College of Art and Design) and Master of Science (University of Texas at Austin) in Historic Preservation.
During her career she has worked on both the physical construction and public policy/advocacy sides of the field, which benefits her current work with applicants applying for the State and Federal Historic Tax Credit Programs.
Laurie Rogers has been an independent grant writer for 30+ years in the Richmond region. She has worked for a variety of clients, focusing primarily on social services. In addition to researching potential funders, writing grants and submitting reports to funders, she also works with nonprofits to help them tell the most compelling story about their work and impact in the community.
Prior to being a grant writer, Laurie was the Capital Campaign Director for a $30 million effort and Annual Fund Director at the Valentine Museum. She has taught grant writing and fundraising courses at University of Richmond’s Institute on Philanthropy, VCU and UVA and other entities since 1999, which keeps her focused on current trends and changes in the non-profit sector. Laurie has served on the Vestry of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church (Junior Warden) as well as served as the Junior and Senior Warden at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.
Rev. Thomas has been Rector of Emmanuel Church, Greenwood, Virginia since 2019, and has served in four other parishes with 100+ year old buildings, and as Head of School at boarding and day school founded in 1868. JT is well acquainted with the original sin of deferred maintenance, and the value of having a plan for building maintenance even and especially where budgets are strained.
JT and his wife, Janice, help tend a really old family farm in King William County, and live in a blessedly newer residence in Nellysford, Virginia.
Born and raised in Richmond, Will Glasco became interested in Virginia history and culture at a young age. He grew up helping out in his family’s small business but was drawn to the historic port town of Wilmington, North Carolina, attending UNCW. After graduation in 2008 with a degree in Creative Writing, he worked for the American Civil War Museum in Richmond in both the Visitor Services and Development Departments.
Beginning in 2014, he led the Development program at Preservation Virginia, and recently became Chief Executive Officer of the organization. He’s working towards a graduate degree in American History, and volunteers with the Rural Plains Foundation in Hanover and Historic Turkey Run House in Chesterfield. He lives with his wife Kara and sons Finn and Cullan in Hanover County.
2:30—3:00pm
Diocese of Virginia Resources
- Diocesan Missionary Society (DMS)
- Va. Episc. Real Estate Partners
Panel:
The Rev. Dina Widlake serves as rector of Epiphany Episcopal Church in Oak Hill (Herndon) Virginia. She also serves as president for the Diocesan Missionary Society (DMS) in the Diocese of Virginia.
Before a call to ordained ministry, Rev. Dina was a consultant to primarily government agency and military clients in the areas of performance improvement and training implementations. The DMS provides short-term and long-term loans at competitive rates in support of parish capital projects and outreach initiatives.
Ms. Melton has many years experience in financial services and management. Currently, she assists families with financial and home management matters, focused especially on the care and support of loved ones.
As Vice President of DMS, Tracy, together with her fellow board members, oversees lending and loan administration to Diocesan churches and organizations, supporting their ministries.
Ms. Janopaul dedicated her career to leading nonprofit real estate organizations. She served as CEO of True Ground Housing Partners (formerly the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing), from 2007 – 2021; a regional, award-winning, housing developer, Ms. Janopaul was featured on the cover of Affordable Housing Finance Magazine as one of 10 Wonder Women in affordable housing nationwide (March 2019). At her departure, True Ground had a portfolio of 19 multifamily rental properties valued at more than $500 million, plus another 10+ projects in various stages of development. In 2025, the Arlington Community Foundation named her the inaugural “Spirit of Leadership” honoree.
Ms. Janopaul earned a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University. She has been active on numerous boards and commissions and is a frequent speaker at conferences and workshops. She consults with nonprofits, judicatories and congregations on mission real estate. She is currently serving on the boards of Goodwin Living, the Urban Land Institute’s Terwilliger Advisory Board, and as chair of Virginia Episcopal Real Estate Partners (VEREP).
3:00pm
Wrap Up
To Attend
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