O'Kelly's Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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O'Kelly's Chapel
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | NC 751, near Farrington, North Carolina |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | c. 1900 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| MPS | Chatham County MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001457 |
| Added to NRHP | July 5, 1985 |
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O'Kelly's Chapel is a historic church building located near Farrington in Chatham County, North Carolina. It was named after Reverend James O'Kelly. The chapel was built around 1900. It is a simple, one-room country church. It features Gothic Revival style elements. These include a steep roof and tall, narrow windows. The chapel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
The Story of O'Kelly's Chapel
Who Was James O'Kelly?
O'Kelly's Chapel was the home church of James O'Kelly. He was the founder of the Christian Church. O'Kelly started his ministry in the 1780s. He was a circuit-riding Methodist preacher. This meant he traveled to different places to preach. At that time, the Methodist Church was a movement. It was part of the Church of England. After the American Revolution, Methodists in America wanted to form their own church.
Starting a New Church
O'Kelly and others believed the church should be more democratic. They felt too much power was given to the bishop. They wanted ministers and churches to have more self-government. O'Kelly dreamed of a "free" church. He also believed it should be against slavery. He thought the church should reflect the new United States. It should be organized with equal authority for pastors. Laypeople, or regular church members, should also have a voice.
The Christian Church is Born
Because of their strong beliefs, O'Kelly and many others left the Methodist church. They formed a group called "Republican Methodists." In 1794, they officially became the "Christian" church. They agreed on five main principles:
- The Lord Jesus Christ is the only head of the Church.
- "Christian" is a good enough name for the Church.
- The Holy Bible is enough to guide faith and actions.
- Being a good Christian is enough to be a member.
- Everyone has the right to make their own judgments. They also have freedom of conscience.
O'Kelly's Life in North Carolina
James O'Kelly moved to Chatham County, North Carolina, in 1794. There, he started a congregation. This group eventually became O'Kelly Chapel. He also started other churches nearby. These included Damascus Christian Church in 1797. He also founded Martha's Chapel in Apex in 1803. O'Kelly served these churches as a traveling preacher for many years.
The Christian Church movement grew in Virginia and North Carolina. It later merged with other church groups. One merger was with Baptist churches in Vermont. Even though it was never a huge movement, it connected churches across the country.
The Chapel Building
The O'Kelly Chapel congregation first met in 1794. They probably met in O'Kelly's home. In 1803, about two acres of land were given for a church building. Over time, several buildings were constructed on the site. The current church building was built in 1910. It is the fourth church structure on this land. There is also a cemetery on the property. It has about 100 graves. In 1985, the chapel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Mergers and New Names
The Christian Church later joined with the Congregational Church in 1933. They formed the Congregational Christian Church. Then, in 1957, this group merged again. They joined with the Evangelical and Reformed Church. This created the United Church of Christ. This new church aimed to bring different Protestant groups together.
Other Churches Founded by O'Kelly
James O'Kelly was born in Virginia around 1736. He moved to Chatham County, North Carolina, between 1794 and 1807. His sons had already moved to North Carolina. The O'Kelly family bought land near the chapel site. James O'Kelly continued to organize new churches. He also visited congregations and attended church meetings. He died on October 16, 1826. He was buried in the family cemetery near O'Kelly's Chapel.
O'Kelly also started Martha's Chapel in Chatham County. This was about five or six miles from O'Kelly's Chapel. Land was given for this church in 1803. The Martha's Chapel congregation likely built its first church building soon after. These small country churches were important for local communities. They allowed people to worship together.
The United Church of Christ (UCC) became involved in civil rights. In the 1970s, the UCC supported African-American students in Wilmington, North Carolina. This led to some disagreements within the church. Some churches left the denomination. This caused some of the history of James O'Kelly to be less remembered.
What Happened to O'Kelly's Chapel?
Why Services Stopped
O'Kelly's Chapel was formed in 1794. The current building is the fourth one on the site. The church believed in "liberty of conscience." This meant each person could interpret the Bible in their own way. When the Congregational Christian Churches merged with the Evangelical and Reformed Church in 1957, the chapel became part of the United Church of Christ.
In the early 1980s, regular worship services stopped at O'Kelly's Chapel. Sometimes, weddings or holiday services were held there. But even these became less frequent. The building started to fall apart.
Deciding the Chapel's Future
In 2013, the church leaders decided to figure out the chapel's future. There was no money or interest to fix the building. So, in 2016, they decided to sell the property.
The chapel was sold to For Garden's Sake. This is a landscape and garden supply business. The new owners do not plan to tear down the building. They want to find ways for the community to use it. Church leaders hope the chapel will be saved. They want it to remind people of James O'Kelly's work.
Decommissioning Ceremony
On July 29, 2018, a special ceremony was held. It was called a decommissioning ceremony. This was to change the land and chapel to non-religious use. A small group of UCC members attended. They discussed the chapel's history. They also talked about the anti-slavery movement. Stories from past church members were shared. The service ended with a hymn written by James O'Kelly.
Images for kids
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Pulpit inside the O'Kelly Chapel
