In the early 1830s, Dr Thomas Henry Wright conceived the idea to build Lebanon Chapel. The chapel was to serve those members of St. James who lived in the vicinity of the Greenville, Wrightsville, Masonboro and Middle Sounds, and those who vacationed in the area during the summer months. Dr Wright paid for the construction of the chapel, with the exception of a few contributions from other members of St. James Parish.
The chapel was completed in the year 1835. The land was part of a 320 acre tract known as "Mount Lebanon," named because of the surrounding cedar trees that recalled the Biblical "Cedars of Lebanon." Dr. Wright decided to give the chapel to St. James Parish. However, he died without ever having deeded the building and its surrounding acreage. The property passed to his son, Adam Empie Wright. Adam also died without formally passing the title to St. James Parish. Not until 1875 was the property finally deeded to St. James Parish by his sons' guardian, Mrs. Marion Potter for the sum of one dollar, as she executed the intent of Dr. Thomas Wright.
Airlie Gardens, a 155 acre tract that included much of the Mount Lebanon estate, was owned, conceived, and developed by Sarah Green (Mrs. Pembroke) Jones. When she bought the land from the Wright family, she named her new acquisition "Airlie" after her husband's ancestral home in Scotland. Her husband owned Pembroke Park (now Landfall) and as long as he lived, services were held at Lebanon Chapel. After Pembroke Jones's death, his widow helped finance the building of St. Andrew's on-the-Sound in 1923. It was at this time that the little chapel was abandoned.
In 1972, The Rev. Herbert L. Aman approached The Rt. Rev. Thomas H. Wright, Bishop of East Carolina (and great great grandson of the original owner of the property now known as Airlie Gardens), to see what could be done with Lebanon Chapel, as vandals had almost destroyed the property. The mutual feeling was that it should be restored if at all possible as a living monument to the past, an inspiration for those yet to come, and above all to the Glory of God. Work was begun in 1973 and 1974 summer services were held, conducted by the clergy of St. Andrews on-the-Sound.
The year 2000 began a new chapter for St. James as its clergy and laity participated in summer worship at Lebanon Chapel for the first time in 70 years. Last summer our average Sunday attendance was 117. Not only is Lebanon Chapel now used for summer services at 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., but also for special services throughout the year. During the 2003-2004 year, these services included : Thanksgiving Services at 4 and 6 p.m.; Advent Services at 4 and 6 p.m. in December; and Easter Eve Vespers Service at 4 p.m..
Lebanon Chapel welcomes all who would worship here. We urge all who enter to spend a moment of quiet surrounded by the peace of God which passeth all understanding.
The Lebanon Chapel is available for lease to both Episcopalians and other denominations. Additional information is available by calling the Wedding Coordinator at (910) 762-2051 or through e-mail at parish@stjamesp.org Click here for images of Lebanon Chapel
To learn more about the history of Lebanon Chapel, register for information about the upcoming book: Temple of our Fathers by Susan Taylor Block to be published in the fall of 2004 by calling the Church Office at (910) 763-1628
Lebanon Chapel photograph courtesy of Susan Taylor Block