Brown Chapel, the first African Methodist Episcopal church in Alabama, was the site of preparations for a voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery on March 7, 1965.
, then a young activist. Weeks later, thousands gathered there before the Selma-to-Montgomery march led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Maxwell is part of a group of Brown Chapel members serving on a foundation that’s trying to raise money for repairs estimated to exceed $4 million, she said. The church, located in a public housing community, has only a few dozen members in regular attendance, so it’s relying on grants and outside donations to fund the work.
The National Park Service already has provided a grant of $1.3 million for restoration of the church, which was constructed in 1908 by a formerly enslaved Black builder, A.J. Farley, and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1997. “Our goal is to try to receive over $3 million in grants to do the foundational work. After that we hope to get in more private donations,” Maxwell said.
With members unable to gather in the building since repair work began in October, Maxwell said, the few who still attend continue meeting online.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Brown defends House seat in Democratic Primary, AP projectsFor Democrats, a potential threat to incumbent U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown in Cleveland has been of keen interest locally and nationwide.
Read more »
Brown wins Ohio rematch with progressive activist TurnerCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown beat former state Sen. Nina Turner for the second time since last summer, easily prevailing Tuesday in an Ohio primary billed nationally as a key showdown between the party’s more moderate establishment and its activist progressive wing.
Read more »
Thumbs up or down: Eagles beat writers weigh in on the A.J. Brown tradeThere's no debating his skills and potential, and it can no longer be said that the Eagles haven't surrounded Jalen Hurts with enough playmakers.
Read more »
Representative Shontel Brown wins congressional democratic nomination in a landslide victoryRepresentative Shontel Brown defeated former State Senator Nina Turner in the rematch for Ohio’s 11th district congressional seat.
Read more »
Shontel Brown Defeats Nina Turner in Tense Ohio RematchThe rematch was quieter, the fissures that emerged between different factions of the Democratic Party during last year’s contest remained.
Read more »
Patrick Brown under fire for comments about Israeli-Palestinian conflictBrown called on Canada to do more to help Palestinian refugees, as well as those from Afghanistan and Yemen, as it has done for Ukrainian refugees
Read more »