Brevard’s Chapel
The oldest surviving Black church in Lincoln County stands as an irreplaceable cornerstone and testament to centuries of history, unwavering faith, and indomitable community resilience.
The beloved historic chapel was built by the skilled hands of formerly enslaved Christians and is a wonderfully intricate example of Carpenter Gothic architecture. Revered throughout the area, the chapel is an irreplaceable artifact of African American heritage and the community to which it belongs. Furthermore, its presence on Campground Road in the town of Denver, NC makes it a beloved and iconic landmark situated next to Rock Springs Campground.
In February 2025, the United Methodist Church (UMC) announced new plans for the site, which unfortunately included the demolition of the chapel. However, in March of 2025, these plans were put on hold by the UMC to allow the preservation team to proceed with developing a restoration and sustainability plan. Through joining together, the United Methodist Church Catawba Valley District, HEARTS Collaborative, Lincoln Landmarks, Lincoln County Historical Association, Preservation North Carolina, Preserve Mecklenburg, and many others are coming together to save this important piece of history.
The journey to restore this precious chapel began with a collaborative spirit, culminating in the United Methodist Church's recent approval of HEARTS Collaborative's dedicated oversight and facilitation. This partnership and the community’s continued support are crucial for the restoration and rehabilitation of the chapel's unique architecture and Carpenter Gothic details, and implementing future sustainable plans to utilize the chapel for the community.
Historic photos courtesy of Lincoln County Historical Association.
This is a time-sensitive project! If we don't raise the necessary funds, historic Brevard’s Chapel may face demolition. We are confident that community support exists. Please donate or pledge your support today. Let's prevent this important community landmark from being erased from the landscape!
Together, we can make this happen!
Brevard’s Chapel Capital Campaign
Brevard’s Chapel - Photo courtesy of Lake Norman Publications
We are thrilled and thankful for the approval from the United Methodist Church Trustees for our restoration and rehabilitation plans, which will permanently preserve and share historic Brevard's Chapel in Denver, NC. We have an incredible collaboration of organizations working together to turn this vision into reality. Thank you, Lincoln Landmarks, Lincoln County Historical Association, Preservation North Carolina, Preserve Mecklenburg, Inc., Lincoln County Historic Preservation Commission, and the UMC; together with HEARTS Collaborative, we are preserving the past, connecting the history, and sharing it for the future.
Project Overview
Although structurally sound and in remarkably good condition considering its 1870s construction, the dramatic vaulted ceilings, walls, and floors, all of which are original heartpine woodwork and details, require artisan restoration, and all of the later 20th-century improvements need replacement. With the community’s support, this finished project will preserve and rehabilitate Brevard’s Chapel’s iconic presence, historical integrity, and modernize the facilities to better serve the community, and share Brevard’s Chapel’s important history for generations to come.
Future Community Benefits:
The restored Brevard’s Chapel of the future will be a protected and preserved architectural and cultural landmark and will reopen to the community for:
Sunday chapel services
Meeting space for Scouts, clubs, businesses, weddings, and events
HEARTS’ free community programs featuring local history, nature, and the arts (check out past HEARTS Happenings here)
The Restoration and Rehabilitation:
New Roof and Windows: Reproduction of the original wood shake roof and windows.
Architectural Preservation: Meticulous restoration of distinctive Carpenter Gothic details, including intricate woodwork, facade, and steeple.
Interior Rehabilitation: Restoration of original heartpine woodwork with sensitive electrical and HVAC updates. Essential interior repairs and replacements as needed.
Accessibility Improvements: Redesign of accessibility to ensure future structural sustainability and ensure the facility is accessible to all community members.
System Upgrades: Modernization of electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems.
Landscape: Improve landscaping, drainage, parking, and natural areas.
7-3-25 Update:
We are delighted to report positive progress in the preservation and rehabilitation plans for historic Brevard's Chapel in Denver. Today's meeting with Wesley Development brought us closer to realizing our vision for a vibrant new chapter for this special historic place. Thank you for your continued support; we will share updates as they become available.
Call to Action
The restoration of Brevard's Chapel is an investment in our shared history, cultural identity, and future generations. We will need the community's support to make this happen, but we know it’s there! We invite individuals, businesses, and organizations to join us in this vital endeavor. Your support, whether financial or in-kind, will make a tangible difference in bringing this historic landmark back to its full glory.
How to Contribute
Monetary Donations:
Immediate funds are needed to initiate plans and permitting.
Donations to the Brevard’s Chapel Restoration Project can be made online through the button below.
Or by mail to: HEARTS Collaborative, 20117 W Catawba Ave, Cornelius, NC 28031. Please write "Brevard's Chapel" in the check memo.
Make a Pledge, In-Kind Donation, and/or Volunteer:
Please complete the form below for:
In-Kind Donations: Businesses interested in contributing materials or services, we need you!
Pledging for the Future: Future funds are needed to meet our goal. Let’s create a giving strategy that works for you.
Volunteering: Fundraising and volunteer opportunities for events, administrative tasks, special projects, and community outreach.
See below for HEARTS’ past steps towards preservation for the
Brevard’s Chapel Restoration Project
Resurrecting a Sacred Space
The future of Denver, NC’s historic Brevard’s Chapel is looking much brighter since preservation groups and the United Methodist Church joined forces to reassess the potential for the chapel’s preservation. With a brief timeline, the team quickly got to work determining the structural integrity of the building and the condition of the surviving original building materials.
Inspections have found strong structural integrity, and initial interior demolition has revealed the chapel’s original walls and vaulted ceiling, both made of heartpine tongue and groove wood siding. With a structural engineer endorsement, as well as from construction professionals and the State Historic Preservation Office, the hope is to proceed with the restoration and rehabilitation of the chapel and additions.
HEARTS president, Abigail Jennings, interviewed at Brevard’s Chapel for an article in the Charlotte Observer by Daminica Ellis. Read the full story HERE. Photograph by Khadejeh Nikouyeh.
The next steps in the feasibility process are to specifically define the construction details, learn more from community connections, and develop a funding and future sustainability plan. Additional demolition is needed to determine an accurate budget and scope of work for the chapel’s restoration and rehabilitation. The team is also seeking local connections to learn more about the chapel’s history and input from the local community on future uses. The preservation team is seeking members of past congregations and descendants of those who built the church with stories to share to help preserve the full history of the church from the 1870s through the 21st century. “For 150 years, this chapel was a house of worship and community. Special milestone celebrations, weddings, funerals, and more happened at this special place. We hope to preserve this important ephemeral history, and any past photographs will also be invaluable during the restoration process,” said Abigail Jennings of HEARTS. A community meeting has been organized for April 28, 2025. For more information, email abigail@heartscircle.org.
Photo courtesy of HEARTS.
HEARTS greatly appreciates the outpouring of support from the community and will continue to update this page with new information as it becomes available.
Please help HEARTS and our collaborators save this special place!
Above: February 2025 press release from the United Methodist Church on the plans to demolish the church for the new memorial. As of August 2025, this plan is now on pause to allow fundraising for permanent preservation of Brevard’s Chapel.
Photo courtesy of the Catawba Valley District of the United Methodist Church.
Please help HEARTS and our collaborators save this special place!
Brevard’s Chapel in the News
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Initial Exploration of Brevard's Chapel
History documentarian, Frederick Murphy, with HistoryBeforeUs.com shares the initial exploration of Brevard’s Chapel.
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The Future of Brevard's Chapel
Lake Norman Publication’s documentation of the preservation efforts for Brevard’s Chapel are greatly appreciated.
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Efforts to Save Historic Church
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A Place In Peril
Beth Yarbrough, author of Southern Voices wrote “A Place in Peril” regarding the potential demolition of Brevard’s Chapel in a recent post. HEARTS and other preservation collaborators are grateful that UMC’s plans of demolition have been paused and that a reassessment of preservation is being considered.
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Preserving a History of Faith
A four page feature on Brevard Chapel in the book Legacy of Faith - Rural Methodist Churches in North Carolina authored by Laura A.W. Phillips with photography by Tim Buchman and published by the Duke Endowment.