HISTORIC CHURCH RESTORATIONS AT McCARTYS & ACOMITA
- fgraz0
- Apr 18, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 6
NUEVO MEXICO PROFUNDO is delighted to announce the second phase of a continuing project at the Pueblo of Acoma. The project entails the restoration of two churches—St. Anne in Acomita and Santa María de Acoma in McCartys—designed by John Gaw Meem and built by the pueblo during the pastorship of Father Agnellus Lammert. Photos and information on the history are below.
The first phase of the project was an emergency intervention to prevent further water damage to the church at McCartys. The work included removal of previous roofing layers and installation of a new roof, repair and sealing of the parapets, and repair of interior damage. This $28,000 project was completed in March 2025.
In the current second phase the portal at McCartys will be restored, including reroofing with new canales and downspouts; repair of the parapet; repair and replastering of the portal walls beneath the roof; and restoration of the beams, posts, and corbels. The sacristy will also be reroofed and the interior water damage repaired. The total project cost is $38,000. The project will be completed in June, 2025.
To date the project has been funded by an anonymous donor and the New Mexico Multi-Cultural Foundation, together with the Robert L. Clarke Family Foundation, Kathryn Bard, Lynne Horning, Sallie Bingham, The Catholic Foundation/Higdon-Conejo Fund, Elizabeth Glassman, and Michael Minieka.
Additional support was provided by William deBuys, Catherine Hubbard, Stephen Elison, Jill Whitten, Jo Ann Ward, Augustina Reyes, Marcia Congdon, Michelle Lepore, Jenifer Kirtland, Jarratt Applewhite, Wendi Strong, Beverley Spears, Allison Gentile, Robert J. Torrez, Lynda Sanchez, Beverly and Dudley Hafner, Frank W. Chambers, Michael McGeary, Deborah Boldt, Joy Poole, Katharine Nelson, Flora Sanchez, Barbara Tandy, Katherine Branch and Michael Collier, Elizabeth Riedel, Alyce Santoro, Healthmarket Communications, Rebecca Chwirka, and tour-ticket revenue.
As funds become available Profundo anticipates a third phase to complete the restoration at both churches. We are working in collaboration with Father Joseph Madanu and the parishioner Restoration Group. The Pueblo of Acoma supports the project, as does the Diocese of Gallup. An Acoma contractor, Jackhammer Construction, is doing the restoration work.
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In the 1930s Father Agnellus Lammert, a Franciscan pastor at Acoma and Laguna, collaborated with architect John Gaw Meem on four churches built by their respective pueblos. Meem provided plans and Lammert supervised construction of Santa María de Acoma in McCartys (1933), St. Mary Margaret in Paraje (1935), Sacred Heart in Mesita (1936), and St. Anne in Acomita (1940).
Attached in pdf is a short article by Frank Graziano on development of the two Lammert/Meem churches at Acoma Pueblo.
The historic photos below are from the FATHER AGNELLUS LAMMERT PICTORIAL COLLECTION at UNM's Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections. The Meem drawings are from the JOHN GAW MEEM PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTION OF MEEM BUILDINGS at the same archive. Special thanks to archivist Chris Geherin for his assistance. The color photos are by Frank Graziano.
