Resurrection Project Goals
To retore and renovate the Historic Chapel to a condition that facilitates it becoming a prominent tourist attraction on the Gullah Geechee Corridor and Old Town Bluffton, Hilton Head Island and other communities near and beyond Beaufort County.
Daily Tours
Rentals Facility
Once this restoration project is completed, docents will guide the public through the untold stories of Bluffton. The public will meet historic figures like “Lillie Bell” who rang the church bell to inform the community of deaths, bad weather and fires. She also rang the bell each Sunday at the time of worship.
Tourist will also discover the dual role Campbell Chapel’s Sunday School played in educating the children of the community and providing spiritual guidance for the adults.
The Historic Chapel will be able to provide an additional venue space for the city and its residents. It will be a place to host lectures, destination weddings, concerts, and other events that will bring people together to learn and experience the unique culture of the city.
The Historic Chapel is a significant part of the city’s history and restoring it to its original 1874 condition will allow it to be used as an educational and cultural hub for the community.
Community Meeting Place
Housed Festival Events
Three very different faith communities have worshipped in our historic chapel. The Historic Chapel has served as the meeting place for cultural exchange and conversation. We look forward to reopening our doors to public meetings and gatherings.
The chapel has been a place of respectful dialogue and understanding, providing an opportunity to learn from one another and build bridges between different cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds. It has been a place of acceptance and a source of community strength, and we are excited to continue this tradition.
When we are open for business, the Historic Chapel will join the Bluffton Community in celebrating our history and culture during May Fest, the Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival and the Peanut Festival. We will open the Gullah Village and add Gullah music, food, and dance to these festive activities.
Not only will the Historic Chapel be able to offer its own unique history and culture, but it will also be able to add to the festivities already planned in the community. The Gullah Village will provide an immersive cultural experience that attendees of the festivals will love.
Rev. Dr. Jon R. Black
Dr. Black has been the pastor of five A.M.E. congregations. On March 11, 2015, he was assigned to Campbell Chapel of Bluffton, SC. Dr. Black is married to the former Donna E. Howell and they have three children. His life theme is based on Galatians 6:9 “be not weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
The nine former slaves, who purchased the church, are reverently known as the Campbell Chapel Nine. They, along with members of the Historic Chapel, created what is now known as the existing Campbell Chapel A.M.E. Church.
A cast iron bell, likely purchased and installed around 1874, remains in the Historic Chapel’s cupola today.
Support Our Mission
Support the restoration of our historic chapel by making a donation. Donations will be used to restore the foundation and structure of the sanctuary, which is over 170 years old. Without the necessary repairs, the chapel will continue to deteriorate, and with it a piece of our history will be lost. By donating, we can ensure that the chapel will remain a part of our community for years to come and that its rich history will be preserved.