Asbury Church Project

The Asbury Church was constructed in 1829 as the home of the Methodist Congregation in Middleburg. It served as a hospital and morgue in the Civil War and was subsequently donated to the African American Methodist Church in 1864. It became a central component of the African American community in Middleburg, also serving as the location of the school for African American children. 

The Town was gifted the Asbury Church building in late 2014.  Shortly thereafter, it invested $174,000 to stabilize the building and protect it from further deterioration.  For several years, the Town sought partners interested in the adaptive restoration and reuse of the building. The Town Council expressed its gratitude for all the efforts and hard work of those who submitted proposals to the Town.  On September 9, 2022, the Town Council of Middleburg took action to retain ownership of the historic Asbury Church; to immediately update the stabilization plan of the church, and to move toward completing its restoration and reopening. See the history below for more information related to the Council's decision.   

Oral Histories Project

The Town Council awarded a contract to Caandor  Ventures, a professional videography firm, to record the oral histories of up to fifteen (15) former congregants of the Asbury Church, as well a members of the local African American community.  These recordings will be edited into fifteen five-ten minute videos telling the stories of the individuals/families.  In addition, a composite video (20-30 minutes) will be developed to share the story of the local African American community and the Asbury Church.  It is anticipated that these videos will be available for viewing in the Asbury Church once it is restored; on the Town's website; on  social media, and through other avenues to share these stories.   

Phase 2 - Design Development 

With the completion of Phase 1, the Town has begun Phase 2, which consists of the design development of the restoration/construction plans.  The Town has engaged Glave & Holmes to provide architectural/engineering services for the Asbury Church Restoration Project.  The goal of the project is to restore the church building so it can be used as an interpretative site and a small group meeting/gathering space.  Glave & Holmes is an experienced and well-respected architecture firm, with a specific business practice focused on historic properties.  Through the public procurement process, Glave & Holmes were selected by the Town and Town Council to lead the design effort on the historic Asbury Church.  Specifically, Glave & Holmes has an on-staff architectural historian and will engage with additional firms to explore the historic characteristics of the structure with the intent to preserve and promote its history.  

A project design kick-off meting was held on September 22, 2025.  Site investigation work will begin September 24th, with members of the investigation team being present onsite during different days of the week over a three-week period.  No loud noise or impact to the community is expected; however, if any activity is expected to be disruptive to the public, additional notice will be provided ahead of time.  

Below are some key milestone events associated with the design phase of the project: 

Phase 1 - Community Engagement

In May of 2024, the Town Council awarded a contract to Commonwealth Preservation Group, LLC (CPG) for the coordination of community engagement efforts to identify the community's preferred use(s) for the restored building.  The use(s) will aid the Town as it moves forward with the development of the plans for the building restoration work. During the community engagement, CPG met with local stakeholders, including former congregants of the Asbury Church and local historic groups, to help them gain a better understanding of the history of the Asbury Church; coordinated a public survey; and, hosted a community engagement meeting. On December 12, 2024, CPG presented the findings of their community engagement efforts to the Town Council.  The recommended uses (below) identified in the report were accepted by the Council during is January 9, 2025 meeting.  Please review CPGs report for the detailed results of the community engagement project. 

Key Takeways:

Approved Reuse Options: (in no particular order)

CPG Community Engagement Report and Reuse Recommendations (December 2024)

Take A Virtual Tour of the Asbury Church

As a part of their site visit, CPG scanned the Asbury Church building and property.  Click here to take a virtual tour of the building.  

TOWN COUNCIL DECISION TO RETAIN OWNERSHIP OF ASBURY CHURCH - SEPTEMBER 9, 2022

Based on the significance of the property and input from the community, the Town Council determined that the best pathway forward was to retain the building and move forward with an immediate plan for restoration. As an initial step, the Town Council directed staff to update the stabilization plan for the Asbury Church, to include accounting for aspects of the prior stabilization plan that were not completed; authorized $50,000 toward this initial effort and any immediate repairs; and directed staff to return to Council with the updated stabilization plan and estimated cost of activities to complete the components of the stabilization plan. Suggested improvements include further stabilization of the foundation, repairs to the exterior and windows, repairs to the interior (in keeping with the Secretary of the Interior’s standards for historic renovation), and site improvements for ADA access.  (See the complete stabilization plan below.)

The Town Council agreed to work with local historic and community groups to create an interpretive history of the Asbury Church, including a discussion of race relations in Middleburg, the brave men and women who brought integration to Middleburg, and the importance of historic preservation in Middleburg.

“Today’s vote marks an important step in protecting and preserving one of the most historic buildings in Middleburg,” said Mayor Bridge Littleton. “The Town’s unexpected budget surplus in 2022 has allowed us to commit the funds needed for the restoration and long-term preservation and sustainability of the Asbury Church for the greater Middleburg community.”