SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Selma — one of Alabama’s most sacred civil rights landmarks — has been awarded a $1 million preservation grant to protect and sustain its historic legacy.
The funding comes from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, through its Preserving Black Churches initiative. Brown Chapel is one of five historic congregations nationwide selected to receive the $1 million award as part of a $60 million effort supported by Lilly Endowment Inc.
For Alabama, the recognition carries deep historical weight.
Built in 1908 by formerly enslaved master builder A.J. Farley, Brown Chapel AME became a command center of the Civil Rights Movement and served as the starting point for the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches. The church’s walls sheltered organizers, mass meetings, and strategy sessions that helped reshape American democracy.
The grant will provide funding and technical expertise to ensure the church’s long-term preservation and stewardship. The historic sanctuary, which has undergone restoration, is expected to reopen in 2026.
“These churches represent multifaceted legacies spanning critical moments in American history,” said Brent Leggs, executive director of the Action Fund, noting that the initiative helps safeguard sacred spaces that continue to serve as civic and spiritual anchors.
Rev. Leodis Strong, pastor of Brown Chapel AME Church, called the investment an affirmation of the church’s living mission.
“Brown Chapel is not simply an historic relic,” Strong said. “It is a living, breathing testimony to the power of faith in action.”
As Alabama continues to reflect on its civil rights history, the preservation of Brown Chapel ensures that future generations will walk through the very doors where history was made — and continue the work of justice, faith, and community.