CORDESVILLE, S.C. –– Since Preservation South Carolina purchased Taveau Church in June 2023 from the United Methodist Conference, $800,000 has been raised to support continued rehabilitation of the ca. 1835 structure. This number being raised by $200,000 just this month with a grant award from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

This recent funding will help us restore and protect the beloved sanctuary, which has served as a pillar of faith, community, and social justice for generations. “The Taveau Church project was selected as one of 30 places nationwide out of more than 600 applications, reinforcing both its historical importance and its promise as a new center of community for the future. We are proud to work with the Taveau Legacy Committee and other local, statewide, and regional individuals and organizations in preserving this place and its story,” said John Hildreth, Board Chair of Preservation South Carolina regarding the recent grant award.

To date, Preservation South Carolina has completed emergency stabilization work with Charleston-based contractor, Meadors Inc., which included temporary stabilization framing, lifting the structure 6ft, and replacing the foundation and sills. Community stewardship planning has also taken place, where community residents gathered to discuss the optimal use of Taveau for future planning and sustainability. The most recent work has involved a Ground Penetrating Radar survey, conducted in conjunction with long-term stewardship planning, enabling the identification of sensitive areas to avoid in future work, assessment of drainage patterns, and identification of areas for ancillary activities.

This grant funding will support exterior restoration efforts to ensure the building can remain standing as a monument to the congregation’s history. “These grant recipients represent the richness of the Black Church and the transformative role it has played across the country in shaping our collective history and culture” said Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and senior vice president of the National Trust. See the full list of the National Trust’s grantees here.