HEARTS United to Save Brevard’s Chapel Recap
On Saturday, March 28, 2026, HEARTS Collaborative brought the community together for a celebration of history, heritage, and the arts at a very special fundraiser to preserve and rehabilitate the historic Brevard’s Chapel in Denver, NC. The event was held at the historic Machpelah Church in Iron Station, whose history is directly linked to Brevard’s Chapel.
HEARTS United to Save Brevard’s Chapel fundraiser 3-28-2026. To view the full video, visit HEARTS YouTube page.
The evening began with the soulful music of Thomas Rhyant, accompanied by Kevin Cloud on the keyboard and Maurice Garlin on drums. Rhyant’s vocal range wowed the audience, and the bands’ musical talents transported guests to another time and place. Opening with the traditional hymn, “My God is Wonderful,” Rhyant set a reverent and uplifting tone. His set list also included the spirituals, “The Last Mile of the Way” and “One of These Mornings,” showcasing the rich heritage of African American gospel and spiritual traditions. Rhyant’s music not only honored the past but reminded the audience of the enduring joy and resilience embedded in these songs.
Thomas Rhyant, accompanied by Kevin Cloud on the keyboard and Maurice Garlin on drums.
Randolph Lewis welcomed guests and expressed gratitude to our partners, sponsors, and volunteers who made this event possible. Special thanks were extended to blueharbor bank, Lake Norman Realty, the Lincoln County Historical Association, Lincoln Landmarks, Preservation North Carolina, the Richard Jenrette Foundation, DABA, and the Carolina Farm Trust, along with the many individuals who contributed their financial generosity, time, and support to help save Brevard’s Chapel. Throughout the program, Lewis shared recordings of memories from descendants of Brevard’s Chapel, shared at last year’s community forum at Rock Springs Campground.
The “E” in HEARTS is for Ecology, and following the musical opening, the program paused for an EcoMinute, a signature HEARTS tradition exploring the natural history of the site. Abigail Jennings shared insights into two tree species found on the Machpelah site, connecting the landscape’s natural features to the broader history of the chapel and its surroundings.
Beginning with the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), which is also North Carolina’s state flower, she pointed out a beautiful mature dogwood blooming on the site. She explained the ecological and historical significance of this native species, from its use by Native Americans to its surprising medicinal applications during the Civil War. Abigail also shared that the name “dogwood” is derived from “dagwood,” referring to the tree’s early use for crafting daggers, arrows, and skewers due to its exceptionally dense and durable wood.
Abigail’s also recognized the Chinaberry Tree, Melia azedarach, a deciduous species belonging to the mahogany family, Meliaceae, and pointed out a pair of notable specimens growing beside the Machpelah Cemetery. This tree is not a native species, but was planted in the early 1800’s, and unfortunately has become invasive in our region. Also known as the "Bead Tree," it earned this nickname because its hard, grooved seeds were traditionally used to make rosary beads before the invention of plastic. Another name for the tree is the "Soap Tree," named by backwoods settlers who mashed the yellow fruits in water to create a cleansing bath for washing clothes when real soap wasn't available.
The “A” in HEARTS is for the “Arts,” and live music and the arts are always represented at HEARTS Happenings. The featured dance performance for the gala, entitled “Duke’s Hymn,” was choreographed by Tamara Williams, dancer, choreographer, and dance professor at UNC Charlotte. Presenting UNCC dancers Kayah Bey, Yasmine Bailey, and Grace Berry, dancing to Duke Ellington's "Praise God and Dance" from his Second Sacred Concert (1968). This work was directly inspired by Psalm 150: "Praise him with tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes". The dance performed by a trio marries the music by fusing jazz and classical styles, alongside the spirituals, gospel, and blues in the song.
Grace and Kaya happily explained, “Ellington aimed to show that sacred music could be joyous using jazz as a vehicle to combine the spiritual with the secular.” The choreography mirrored that philosophy, blending jazz dance, ballet, sacred ring shout movements, and West African dance to create a vibrant, immersive experience for the audience.
Below is a video from an alternate angle from the main video above.
Following the dance, guests were seated for a farm-to-table, Southern gourmet dinner by the Carolina Farm Trust with a menu introduction by Chef Ryan Forte’, who shared the local sources for each ingredient and how every part of the food is utilized in various preparations in their “no waste” approach.
The finale of the evening was our keynote speaker, Andre’ Kearns, co-chair of the HEARTS Reunion Project (the “R” in HEARTS) and founder of Black Ancestries, who delivered a compelling speech on the history and legacy of Brevard’s Chapel.
“Who is Henry Brevard?” Andre asked. Henry Brevard, a formerly enslaved blacksmith whose vision and labor helped establish Brevard’s Chapel. “Within a decade of the Civil War’s end, he did something extraordinary. In 1874, Henry Brevard purchased 90 acres of Lincoln County land in his own name. Land was power. Land was protection. Land was possibility.” Kearns described how Henry and his wife Susan sold a portion of that land to the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1885. “Brevard’s Chapel embodied what the Black church has always represented in America, a place where Black Americans could be treated with the respect and dignity they always deserved, but rarely received.”
Kearns emphasized the chapel’s role as a gathering place for worship, community, and celebration, a sacred space of dignity and resilience. Reflecting on the challenges of preservation, Kearns noted, “If we allow it to disappear, we are consenting to selective memory… Supporting Brevard’s Chapel is a bold declaration that Reconstruction was not a footnote.”
He called on the audience to consider their role in preserving this history: “Tonight, we must decide what kind of ancestors we will be. Will we be the generation that let Brevard’s Chapel be reduced to rubble, or will we be the generation that says, No - this place matters, this man matters, this legacy matters, this memory will stand.’” Kearns concluded with a powerful affirmation: “As long as South Brevard Street stands, Brevard’s Chapel must stand. This place, this man, this memory must stand.
The evening concluded with guests roaming the grounds, exploring the 1848 historic Machpelah Church and the 1801 cemetery, while reflecting on the stories they had heard and the legacy they were helping preserve. Hearts were full, connections were deepened, and the mission to save Brevard’s Chapel resonated with everyone present. Brevard’s Chapel stands not only as a very important historic landmark of Lincoln County but also as a symbol of the enduring impact of African Americans within our community.
A heartfelt thank you to our guests, sponsors, volunteers, and all of our HEARTS Circle members who made this special event possible, helping us move closer to our goal to Save Brevard’s Chapel.
Donations are still needed to help us reach our first milestone goal, $100,000! Every donation counts, and every donation is honored. Click here to make a donation today!
About HEARTS
Designed to inspire and enhance our community’s shared sense of place, HEARTS Happenings are grass-roots events known for juxtaposing regional history and ecology with curated local music, visual art, and dance in multi-faceted, place-based programs. HEARTS (History, Ecology, Arts, Reunion, Trails, and Store) is made possible by dedicated volunteers, HEARTS Circle members, 2026 HEARTS Presenting Sponsors Lake Norman Realty and blueharbor bank, and generous donations from the community. All proceeds further the HEARTS mission of historic preservation, ecological conservation, and forging community connections in our region.
HEARTS Collaborative is actively working to help preserve, connect, and share some of our region’s most important historic landmarks. Learn more about HEARTS and join us to achieve goals to honor our local history and enhance our communities through sustainable uses of our special places. www.HEARTSCollaborative.org.
Upcoming Events
New Series: Tea & Tour at the Sharpe House - Multiple Dates
New Series: Tea & Tales at the Sharpe House - Multiple Dates
Sharpe House Mother’s Day Tea - 5-2-26
HEARTS May Day & Living History at the Hugh Torance House and Store - 5-2-2026
HEARTS: Trails Through Time '26 - Sherrills Path, Troutman – 5-23-26
HEARTS Junion '26: Who Was Henry Brevard?, Cedar Grove, 6/13/26
HEARTS July 4th - Forging Our Freedom, Cedar Grove, 7/4/26
