The program also encouraged partnerships between churches and the wider community . Rev . Wil Posey , a Methodist pastor in Murphy , North Carolina , oversees the preservation of another cohort participant , Harshaw Chapel , the “ mother church ” of Methodism in Cherokee County . “ I ’ ve grown to see how the work of restoration can be a collaborative effort that engages community members in projects ranging from cutting grass and cleaning tombstones to futureoriented goals like local craftspersons working together to refurnish the interior of the chapel ,” he said . He sees potential for collaboration with artists from the John C . Campbell Folk School , members of the county historical museum , and even students and teachers from local schools . Posey also recognized the restoration as an opportunity to address local history . “ It is a context in which we can tell difficult stories about the role enslaved persons played in the construction or how the chapel ’ s story was shaped by the forced removal of the Cherokee ,” he said .
Participating congregations learned how to change their approach to fundraising and find unconventional paths to restore and maintain their buildings . Crossnore ’ s Kathy Campbell developed a more realistic awareness of the costs involved with her community ’ s restoration project . “ When [ we ] realized the enormity of our capital project of replacing the sanctuary ’ s 100-year-old roof and the needed structural repairs to the sanctuary with the estimated cost of $ 500,000 , we were encouraged to apply for a National Fund for Sacred Places grant of $ 100,000 ,” she said . Crossnore was accepted into the National Fund and used it as a catalyst to raise another $ 330,000 . “ We raised these funds through national and regional grants and financial donations / pledges from over 100 households from our church family . The final $ 70,000 will be raised through the 130 households from our congregation who have not yet made a pledge or donation , and additional grants . We do not plan on taking out a loan .” Similarly , Reece found incredible support for the Old Mother Church ’ s restoration in the church family , neighbors , and peers . “ The Old Mother Church congregation , the Robbinsville United Methodist Church , and other churches in the community gave funds for the restoration . The County Travel and Tourist Board supported
the program with a grant . Individuals gave to the Old Mother Church building fund . We had support from leaders in the community .”
A n important aspect of the program was helping each church learn how to assess needed repair and restoration projects and connect with architects and reputable trade professionals . Posey said , “ We have secured a new set of plans for the chapel and know where to turn for sound advice as we work toward enacting the plans with the help of a builder .” This process could sometimes be daunting , as initial expectations did not always match up with the true scope of building work needed , but Partners ’ program provided support for congregational leaders to move forward . When confronting capital projects at Old Mother Church , Reece confessed , “ When we started the
Craftsman-style Crossnore Presbyterian Church was built with local stone and lumber from the North Carolina Blue Ridge . Joshua Castaño
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