Asbury Church: Preserving the Past & Shaping the Future

Written by Shayda Windle | Photo by Lindsay Hogeboom

For generations, Asbury Church has stood as a cornerstone of Middleburg’s African American community. Originally constructed in 1829 as the home of the town’s Methodist congregation, the building took on a more somber role during the Civil War, serving as both a hospital and a morgue. In 1864, it was donated to the African American Methodist Church, marking the beginning of its most enduring chapter. Beyond its role as a place of worship, Asbury also housed the school for African American children, becoming a vital center for both spiritual life and education.

In late 2014, the Town of Middleburg was gifted the Asbury Church building. Over the next several years, the town explored partnerships aimed at adaptively restoring and reusing the historic structure. After multiple unsuccessful efforts, the Middleburg Town Council voted on September 9, 2022, to retain ownership of the church and move forward independently. Soon after, the town began updating the building’s stabilization plan, laying the groundwork for a more comprehensive vision.

That vision began to take focus in 2024, when the town awarded a community engagement project to the Commonwealth Preservation Group. Throughout the year, CPG worked closely with residents, conducting surveys and focus groups to understand how the historic church could best serve the community moving forward. The findings were compiled into a comprehensive report and presented publicly in December, offering a shared vision rooted in community voices. The Town Council formally accepted the report the following month, marking a pivotal milestone in the project’s evolution.

With that foundation in place, the town began developing a request for proposals to move the project into its next phase. Two firms with extensive experience in historic restoration — Glave and Holmes Architects and Downey & Scott Construction Management Services — were selected. Both firms previously worked on Middleburg’s Town Hall. Together, they conducted site investigations to assess existing conditions, identify structural strengths and vulnerabilities, and begin developing a schematic design for the building’s future use.

As plans progressed, town leaders also recognized the urgency of preserving Asbury’s living history.

“For years, as the board worked on this project, we realized how important it was to ensure the stories of the congregation were captured,” says Rhonda North, Middleburg’s town clerk. “We were losing elders from the community, and with them, pieces of history we could never replace.”

North recalls meeting with former congregants who expressed a deep desire to see church and baptismal records preserved before they passed. Those conversations underscored the need to document not only written records, but lived experiences — prompting the town to pursue a formal oral history restoration project.

“For years, as the board worked on this project, we realized how important it was to ensure the stories of the congregation were captured.”
–North

Following a request for proposals, Candor Ventures was selected to lead the effort. The team conducted pre-interviews, built relationships with former congregants, and created a welcoming environment that allowed participants to share their stories on camera. The project resulted in 11 powerful videos: 10 capturing the personal oral histories of 12 members who lived in Middleburg and worshipped at Asbury over the years, and a final composite film that tells the broader story of the church and its role in the community.

Once Asbury Church reopens, the videos are intended to be available for viewing inside the building. “The videos are incredibly powerful,” North says. “Our community opened their hearts, sharing history as they experienced it.”

Among those recorded was Reverend Dr. William F. Swann Sr., who led the civil rights efforts that began in Middleburg and extended throughout Loudoun County. Swann passed away during the course of the project, but the town was able to preserve his story on film, an irreplaceable contribution to the historical record.

The videos will also be made available through the town’s website and shared with schools and educational organizations, ensuring that Asbury’s legacy reaches future generations.

“Our community opened their hearts, sharing history as they experienced it.” –North

As the design process continues, the project team will work closely with the Historic Review Committee to assess and approve any exterior changes, ensuring the church’s historic character is preserved. The Asbury Church Committee will evaluate the schematic design and provide feedback as well.

If approved, the plans will be unveiled publicly on February 11 as part of Middleburg’s Black American History celebration. The event begins at 5 p.m., with doors opening at 4:30 p.m. and light refreshments being served. Community members will also have an opportunity to view the oral history videos during the event.

Design and construction documentation is expected to continue through July, with final plans anticipated for Town Council approval in the July-August time frame. The council has already allocated $1 million in capital funding toward the project, though additional fundraising will be required before construction bids are solicited.

The restoration effort represents more than a building project; it’s a commitment to honoring Asbury Church’s profound legacy while ensuring it remains a place of meaning, memory, and community for generations to come. ML

Published in the February 2026 issue of Middleburg Life.