[Neighbors] Story on Immanuel Presbyterian

[Lindsay at Nob Hill News]

Hi neighbors,

It was suggested I share this story that was published in Nob Hill News
<https://www.albuquerquenobhillnews.com/> on Monday with you. Hope this
helps answer some questions.



<https://substack.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.iAotx2ILdakIJavx9oht486lH7So7Abspz67T6dUZW8?>

What’s Happening with Nob Hill’s Iconic Immanuel Presbyterian Church?By Ty
Bannerman
<https://substack.com/redirect/303996ad-43a6-46ed-9f47-11d83f8b2586?j=eyJ1IjoiNTdocXZ4In0.01jeUT4a0Gdsw9I6Hkw5R8gqDlBVHF99icdT_T6EYZY>
The
Immanuel Presbyterian near Central and Carlisle. *(Photo: Lindsay Wood)*

Recently, Alert Reader Jane wrote in with a question:

“Could you possibly do a story about the state purchase of the Presbyterian
Church in Nob Hill and the plans for the building?”

State purchase of the Presbyterian Church in Nob Hill? Well, it wasn’t
exactly the first I’d heard of something on the horizon for Nob Hill’s
iconic Immanuel Presbyterian Church (114 Carlisle SE
<https://substack.com/redirect/0503d096-a165-4118-9b79-203a05ffa302?j=eyJ1IjoiNTdocXZ4In0.01jeUT4a0Gdsw9I6Hkw5R8gqDlBVHF99icdT_T6EYZY>)—built
in 1949 and designed by similarly iconic architect John Gaw Meem
<https://substack.com/redirect/0f4c045a-0ec8-421c-921f-f5f07d4375be?j=eyJ1IjoiNTdocXZ4In0.01jeUT4a0Gdsw9I6Hkw5R8gqDlBVHF99icdT_T6EYZY>.
Rumors had been swirling around the building’s fate for a while now, though
little definite had emerged.

In fact, a little while earlier, I had received a group email from Scouts
BSA Troop 3 stating that a “big change” was going to affect the troop. “Our
church [Immanuel Presbyterian] is closing,” the email read. “We need to
find a new home by the end of February.”

Similar messages also started popping up on the Nob Hill Neighborhood
listserv with questions about the landmark. One concerned neighbor wrote,
“I attend a group that meets there... And we have been asked to stop
meeting in February as they are closing... :-( SO No real news of whats
going on but the church is soon to be not occupied, apparently.”

The obvious starting point was the Presbyterian Church itself, so I called
to speak with Reverend Drew Henry. Unfortunately, he wasn’t available for a
conversation at the time, but he did send a statement via email.

“Thank you for reaching out. To your questions, the church is not closing.
Immanuel is engaged in a thoughtful process to determine the future of both
the building and the congregation. No final determinations have been made
at this point. When that changes, we will let you know.”

With so many folks continuing to ask about the church, though, NHN decided
we had to investigate further, even if Henry wasn’t yet ready to spill the
tea.

We next reached out to Daniel Zillmann at the New Mexico Department of
Cultural Affairs to see if he’d heard of any plans for the state to
purchase and preserve the building.

Zillmann dug around and found that in a 2025 capital outlay bill (HB 450),
<https://substack.com/redirect/31db2a7c-1929-4866-9a47-810c336b579b?j=eyJ1IjoiNTdocXZ4In0.01jeUT4a0Gdsw9I6Hkw5R8gqDlBVHF99icdT_T6EYZY>
there
was an appropriation for “$200,000 for a feasibility study to develop a
historic building near Central avenue in the southeast area of Albuquerque
as an arts and cultural facility.” The outlay bill was sponsored by Senator
Antoinette Sedillo Lopez and Representative Marianna Anaya and, after a
little rewording, is scheduled to be authorized during the 2026 legislative
session.

Senator Antoinette Sedillo Lopez confirmed with us that the appropriations
were meant for the Immanuel Presbyterian Church. According to her, Reverend
Drew Henry had reached out to her for help in deciding on the future of the
building and its possible change from a religious to a secular community
center. “[Reverend Henry] is looking for ways to fund the restoration and
also make the church more accessible to the community,” she said. She also
mentioned that Henry had met with county, city and state officials to
discuss obtaining a grant to help with the process. “I committed to support
it with capital outlay funds because it is a jewel in our community,” she
said. “Of course, the state cannot provide capital outlay to a church but
we can support a non-profit community center as long as it provides
services to the community.”

Representative Anaya also confirmed that the plans currently call for the
building to become a secular community center involving the Carlisle Center
<https://substack.com/redirect/f2f608b6-4d7c-4daf-bd12-e1e22ffaf289?j=eyJ1IjoiNTdocXZ4In0.01jeUT4a0Gdsw9I6Hkw5R8gqDlBVHF99icdT_T6EYZY>,
a non-profit that shares an address with Immanuel Presbyterian.

I once again reached out to Reverend Henry but received no response except
an out-of-office message stating that he’d be on vacation until Jan. 5.
Frustrated, I prepared to publish an article about my attempts to sleuth
out the answer without an explanation from the one person who could
actually provide me with one.

And then, it happened. On Sunday, Dec. 28, as I was putting the final
touches on this article, Reverend Henry sent the following statement, which
we have reproduced in full:

With construction beginning in 1949, Immanuel Presbyterian Church was
established to serve the rapidly growing neighborhood of Nob Hill in
post–World War II Albuquerque. Designed by renowned architect John Gaw
Meem, the building exemplifies New Mexico’s Territorial Revival style.
Constructed with significant volunteer labor, the church has retained
exceptional architectural integrity, with a sanctuary distinguished by
Meem’s signature use of light, craftsmanship, and locally inspired artistic
elements.

For 75 years, Immanuel Presbyterian Church has faithfully stewarded this
landmark while serving as a spiritual home for generations of families and
a center for community life in Albuquerque. Following a comprehensive
professional architectural assessment, the congregation has arrived at the
difficult conclusion that it does not have adequate resources to complete
the extensive renovations required to preserve the historic structure.

On December 14, 2025, the congregation voted unanimously to donate the
building to the State of New Mexico, affirming a shared commitment to
preserving this treasured site as a public asset for future generations.
The congregation celebrates this historic gift and the alignment around
ensuring the building’s continued use for public benefit. We expect the
donation process to be completed in the first half of 2026.

Immanuel Presbyterian Church remains committed to continuing its ministry
and community presence. The congregation is currently engaged in a
thoughtful process to discern the future shape and location of its
ministry, with additional details to be shared as decisions are finalized.

Immanuel Presbyterian Church offers heartfelt thanks to the Nob Hill
community for being home to our congregation for the past 75 years, and to
the State of New Mexico for its partnership in preserving the architectural
and historical character of this beloved neighborhood. While we leave our
church building with certain sadness, we also do so with gratitude, hope,
and joyful anticipation for the new life and purpose it will serve in the
community.

*NHN will provide updates as more information emerges.*



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[image: www.abqnobhillnews.com] <http://www.abqnobhillnews.com>
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