Preserving a History of Faith

Located in Lincoln County near the historic Rock Springs Campground, Brevard’s Chapel is an irreplaceable artifact of African American heritage and the community to which it belongs.

Brevard’s Chapel United Methodist Church was built in the Carpenter Gothic architectural style, by hand, in the 1870s by African Americans. As detailed in “Legacy of Faith: Rural Methodist Churches in North Carolina” by Laura A.W. Phillips, Brevard’s Chapel is one of the few surviving African American places of worship from the post-Civil War period.

According to church legend, African Americans once walked to the Little Egypt community to worship at St. James. This was a four- or five-mile trek. In the 1870s, Henry Brevard gave an acre of his land for a new church that became known as Brevard’s Chapel.

Brevard Chapel’s congregation has suffered from declining membership and has been unable to pay dues to the United Methodist Conference. The church was closed in 2020 due to severe water damage. In February 2025, the United Methodist Church Western North Carolina Conference announced plans to demolish the church after engineers determined the structure could not be saved. However, others believe preservation is possible and are joining forces to save the building.

As of March 20, 2025, the United Methodist Church Western North Carolina Conference has suspended demolition plans and has agreed to allow the community to develop a plan to stabilize and restore the structure.

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 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.

Abigail Jennings of HEARTS reports that positive progress has been made in the preservation and rehabilitation plans of the historic chapel. “The chapel currently stands in stable condition and is well within the limits of preservation versus demolition,” Jennings said. “With a multitude of experts offering assistance, the preservation of Brevard’s Chapel can be made a reality. Too many important historic properties have already been lost from our landscape and this rare gem will be sorely missed. Preservation is possible and we have a collaboration of experts and financial resources ready and willing to assist before, during and after.”

By 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.

For more information on the project, please visit heartscollaborative.org/brevards-chapel.