Decades later, the church had to close its doors to the public after extensive structural damage was uncovered. In summer 2022, Brown Chapel was listed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places List, highlighting the severe risks facing this incredible site of American civil rights, religious, and architectural history.

That same year, the church was awarded $1.8 million in grants from the National Park Service, $202,000 from Save America’s Treasures, and $150,000 from the National Trust’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund to help address termite and water issues and replace the structural beams in the church’s iconic tower cupolas.

Since then, the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund’s Preserving Black Churches program has convened a team of experienced consultants across the fields of architecture, community engagement, interpretation, strategic planning and fundraising to develop a full holistic stewardship plan for Brown Chapel. The team, comprised of architecture firms Richard Hudgens and Bailey Edward, and strategic planners CJAM Consulting, is guiding Brown Chapel to identify its needs while aligning its mission, vision, and goals to an actionable plan.

Through participating in this project, Brown Chapel has developed a Historic Structures Report, a Facilities Condition Assessment for the full site, and a full rehabilitation plan with cost estimates for the building’s sanctuary (a rendering of the completed interior provided by Bailey Edward and Richard Hudgens is shown above). The next phase of work will include the development of strategic, fundraising, management, and interpretation plans for the church.