Morgan King of the Woodlawn community has announced that an effort is underway to help restore and preserve the historic Wesley Chapel Church located along Hwy. 63 at the Randall community.
The church was built in 1872 on three acres of land donated by Augustus and Margaret Bridges in 1870 for the church and accompanying cemetery. King said she attended a meeting of the Wesley Chapel Cemetery Association this past weekend, and the group discussed the possibility of tearing the church down since a leaking roof had caused some significant floor damage inside.
King said she was able to convince the group to see if they could raise enough money to repair the roof and the floor, as well as give it a new coat of paint outside. She said the overall goal is to raise at least $20,000 with an immediate goal of having enough money by December to repair the roof.
She said a Facebook page entitled Wesley Chapel Church/Cemetery has been established to provide information, and that donation jars have been set up at the stores in Woodlawn and Rowell. Other fundraisers are being planned as well including a booth at Rison in the Fall.