Built around 1840, this former schoolhouse in Plymouth, Mass., became the home of the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1870.

The congregation, which was founded n 1866, is one of a handful of AME churches in eastern Massachusetts and is still in use today.

When this picture was taken in May of last year, the church was in a state of disrepair, and the small congregation needed money to make things right again. A fellow Plymouth minister organized a GoFundMe campaign to help the small church restore its historic building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places..

The Rev. Judy Campbell, a Unitarian Universalist community minister, organized the online

“Think of it as a social, religious, compassionate, ecumenical and multi-racial, neighborly demonstration of love in action,” Rev. Judy Campbell, a Unitarian Universalist community minister wrote in her appeal.

“Faith without action is little more than a word in the dictionary, and this Unitarian Universalist pastor is putting her shoulder to the African Methodist Episcopal wheel because whatever our denomination, we are all working for the common good.”

According to a December story on WickedLocal.com, renovations have been ongoing since last July, including replacing the worn and weathered wood with aluminum siding. New windows and landscaping are among the other improvements the church is hoping to make.

If you’re interested in helping out, the GoFundMe campaign can be found here.