.jpg)
For the past 155 years, Sunday morning worship services have been held at historic Asbury United Methodist Church in the northern Rockbridge village of Brownsburg.
The primarily African American church was founded so that former slaves who had attended New Providence Presbyterian Church would have their own house of worship.
Now, church and community members are facing expensive reconstruction efforts in order to preserve the venerable structure that is at the heart of Brownsburg.
Last May when church members past and present were celebrating Asbury’s anniversary, a disconcerting rumble was heard as the sanctuary floor settled several inches. The church had to be evacuated, and church and community members pitched in to remove the ceiling from the meeting hall that sits directly below the sanctuary.
What they found were termites. And the main beam in the basement supporting the sanctuary floor had failed. Major restoration was obviously required. And even necessary because Asbury, like the village, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register.
A group of volunteers with Bill McGough taking a lead role got to work immediately. McGough had just completed his restoration of what had been known for decades as Old South Antiques as a bed and breakfast. McGough was “in the zone” and ready to move on to his next project.
The restoration became known as Standing Strong Brownsburg’s Historic Asbury Church.
Not surprisingly, the project is not cheap, even with generous offerings of volunteer help and in-kind services from many Rockbridge businesses and individuals including electrical work, plumbing and heating, legal help with tracing the deed and architectural drawings.
An ongoing appeal for donations is being made by the Asbury restoration project. A generous contribution from Historic Lexington Foundation helped fund demolition of the basement meeting room that has continued through the summer and is now nearly complete. The total cost of the project is estimated to be approximately $70,000. Initial donations totaling $20,000 has been spent so far.
The Asbury project is not strictly the work of the Brownsburg Community Association, although that organization is supporting the effort with volunteers and donations. The BCA frequently uses Asbury for various events. The BCA is also a registered as a nonprofit organization making all donations tax-deductible.
Tax-deductible donations to support the project can be made to the Asbury Church GoFundMe page, a link to which can be found on the church’s Facebook page and the BCA’s website. Checks should be made payable to the Brownsburg Asbury Church Renovation Project. Checks can also be mailed directly to BCA/Asbury, P.O. Box 81, Brownsburg, VA 24415.
“We’ve replaced the windows so everything is water tight,” McGough said. “There will be new electric and plumbing, the kitchen will have the feel of a commercial kitchen with stainless steel appliances, and the bathroom will have all new fixtures.”
“The project is a true blessing,” said church member Doug Stevenson. “It’s incredible how fortunate we are to have this wonderful historic Asbury Church renovated. And you know what, I’m eventually going to be buried in that Asbury Cemetery, which makes this project personal and all the more important.”
