The Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis rang its bells Oct. 14 to celebrate its victory in the 2011 Partners in Preservation contest.

Readers of The Catholic Spirit were encouraged in a Sept. 23 story to visit the Partners in Preservation Facebook page and vote for the Basilica. The competition was sponsored by American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Individuals were invited to cast votes daily from Sept. 20 to Oct. 12 for their favorite of 25 historic places in the Twin Cities competing for preservation grants. The winner of the popular vote was assured the full grant.

The Basilica, which won with 19 percent of the votes, requested and will receive a $109,800 grant to restore the narthex and sacristy, which have been damaged by decades of roof leaks. Repairs and a thorough cleaning of the limestone walls and decorative paintings are planned for February 2012.

“We are truly grateful to take part in this exciting program that brings awareness to the importance of historic preservation,” said Emily Hjelm, executive director of The Basilica Landmark, a nonprofit organization that builds awareness and raises funds for the Basilica. “It is an honor to be included in this group of 25 of the most treasured historic landmarks in the Twin Cities. We greatly appreciate the public voting for the Basilica and are looking forward to starting our restoration project.”