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.  

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.

The beloved historic chapel was built by the skilled hands of formerly enslaved Christians and is a wonderfully intricate example of Carpenter Gothic architecture. Located in Lincoln County near the historic Rock Springs Campground, the chapel is an irreplaceable artifact of African American heritage and the community to which it belongs. 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.

HEARTS will continue to update this page with new information as it becomes available and greatly appreciates the outpouring of support from the community.