Local News - August 2003

Restoration of Moores Chapel faces hurdles

Published August 11, 2003

By JEREMY ASHTON, LTN Staff Writer

Members of the congregation at Moore’s Chapel AME Zion Church figured the only way to save their historic church would be with a tremendous outpouring of financial support from the community.

The miracle they were looking for hasn’t come yet, but they still have a glimmer of hope after between 25 and 30 people attended a community meeting Wednesday at Oaklawn Center to discuss the church’s future.

“There is a strong interest in preservation, but we just have to see if it’s going to be feasible to do it,” the Rev. Ralph Williamson said.

Moore’s Chapel’s congregation has had the decaying building thoroughly inspected. But Brad Guth, Lincolnton’s business and community development director, suggested having Paul Fomberg, a restoration specialist from the N.C. State Historic Preservation Office, take one last look at the church.

A committee was also formed at the meeting to raise money for the church. The group is composed of seven members of the church, including Williamson, and seven concerned residents.

The committee will hold its first meeting Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in Democratic Party headquarters, 306 N. Aspen St. Anyone is welcome to come.

“I think this has given the community an opportunity to react positively to the possibility of restoring the church, but it is going to take a community-wide effort and a major, major fund drive,” Guth said.

Moore’s Chapel was established in 1898 at 1009 E. Main St. An electrical fire claimed the original building in 1941, but a new one was erected on the same spot.

The church holds special historical significance because it was long the “backbone” of Lincolnton’s black community, said Darrell Harkey, Lincoln County historical coordinator.

“Churches are the most important historical things we have in Lincoln County … ,” Harkey said. “These churches have touched everyone’s lives either directly or indirectly.”

The building, constructed on a dirt foundation, has been uninhabitable for a year and a half.

The congregation already voted to rebuild the church after consulting with architects and structural engineers. Three reports of their findings were presented at Wednesday’s meeting.

Constructing a new building would actually be less expensive than repairing the existing church, which would cost an estimated $1.5 million.

Whether the money can be raised for the repairs or not, Williamson said there is a “very, very strong, committed effort” on the part of the congregation to keep the church at 1009 E. Main St.

“If we can’t preserve it, we want to see how much of the old building we can incorporate into the new building,” Williamson said.

The congregation and those who care about Moore’s Chapel’s historical importance are holding out hope the situation won’t get to that point.

“Whatever the price, I just feel the Lord will make a way to save that church,” Harkey said.

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Staff Writer Jeremy Ashton can be reached at 704-735-3031 or jashton@ltnews.com.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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