Wilmington, N.C. March 5, 2019 – The Coastal Land Trust and Cedar Hill/West Bank Heritage Foundation are pleased to announce that one of the Cape Fear region’s most culturally and historically significant African American structures, Navassa’s Reaves Chapel, has been purchased by the Coastal Land Trust. The purchase of Reaves Chapel was made possible thanks to a generous grant from The Orton Foundation.
Reaves Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church was built along the Cape Fear’s riverfront after the Civil War by formerly enslaved people of Cedar Hill Plantation. The congregation was made up of formerly enslaved people who farmed the property where the Cedar Hill Plantation once stood, and other neighboring rice plantations. When Mount Misery and Cedar Hill roads were built, roads replaced the river as the main mode of transportation. In response, around 1922, the congregation, with logs and a team of oxen, moved the church from the riverfront to its present location. Reaves Chapel now stands on a small plot of land on Cedar Hill Road, which was given to the church by Edward Reaves, the church’s namesake.
“This was our community church,” said Al Beatty, president of Cedar Hill/West Bank Heritage Foundation. “Everyone in the community went to church there. Major groups came there to perform. A revival would bring in 80 – 100 people. If somebody died, they rang the church bell,” he added. The bell, incidentally, still hangs in place in the church tower.
The church had an active congregation until approximately 1995. Time and weather have taken a toll on the beautiful building since that time. “Navassa Mayor Eulis Willis helped establish the Cedar Hill/West Bank Heritage Foundation in 2013 to enhance, develop and improve the region’s cultural heritage,” said Al Beatty. “Saving Reaves Chapel was the primary focus of the Foundation. Then, in 2015, Mayor Willis introduced the Coastal Land Trust, which had completed several conservation acquisitions in Brunswick County, and which has now been able to complete the purchase of Reaves Chapel from the Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. We also appreciate the guidance of Rev. Jerould Richburg and Rev. Dr. Patricia L. Freeman, who served as local liaisons for the Annual Conference.”
“The Coastal Land Trust is thrilled to have been asked to help save Reaves Chapel,” said Camilla Herlevich, Executive Director of the Coastal Land Trust, “because of our more recent expanded focus on community conservation and serving communities that have not traditionally benefitted from land trust work. We are especially appreciative of the support and encouragement from The Orton Foundation, whose grant made this purchase possible.”
“This was an extraordinary opportunity to help save a beautiful, historically significant African American structure that has fallen into disrepair,” said Louis Bacon, chairman and founder of The Moore Charitable Foundation and its North Carolina Affiliate, The Orton Foundation. “Reaves Chapel was an important pillar in the local community, and The Orton Foundation hopes that our role in helping to save and restore it opens a new chapter in its storied life.”
“We couldn’t be more excited about finally acquiring this irreplaceable community treasure,” said Camilla Herlevich. “But we all know that the real work has just begun. We hope to clean up, repair, stabilize, and restore Reaves Chapel so that it can be a gathering place for the community once again. With our partners at Cedar Hill/West Bank Heritage Foundation, we will be seeking advice, assistance, and expertise—not to mention donations and grants—in the days and months ahead.”
Want to help with the restoration of Reaves Chapel? Donate now!
About North Carolina Coastal Land Trust
Founded in 1992, the mission of the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust is to enrich the coastal communities of North Carolina through conservation of natural areas and working lands, education, and the promotion of good land stewardship. The Coastal Land Trust has saved more than 72,000 acres of special places, and has offices in Wilmington, New Bern and Elizabeth City. www.CoastalLandTrust.org. The Coastal Land Trust previously protected more than 17,000 acres of land along the western banks of the lower Cape Fear River and its tributaries, including a 900-acre tract that it purchased and donated to Brunswick County, now managed by the County as Brunswick Nature Park.
About Cedar Hill West Bank Community Foundation
Founded in 2013, Cedar Hill/West Bank Heritage Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to enhance, develop and improve the cultural heritage of the Cedar Hill/West Bank Corridor through active community involvement. The Foundation has a volunteer Board of Directors.
About The Orton Foundation
The Orton Foundation, an affiliate of The Moore Charitable Foundation founded by Louis Bacon in 1992, focuses on protecting the Cape Fear River Basin’s unique wetlands, lands, forests and wildlife habitats. The Orton Foundation also supports educational, health care and community programs in the region.
For More Information:
Coastal Land Trust
Jesica Black, Associate Director and Director of Community Conservation
910-790-4524 x2030
jesica@CoastalLandTrust.org
Cedar Hill/West Bank Heritage Foundation
Alfonso Beatty
910-520-2517
al.beatty@att.net
