Lebanon Chapel
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. The average summer Sunday attendance is 120 people. 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. These services include a Thanksgiving Services at 4 and 6 p.m. on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, a Service of Advent Lessons and Carols at 4 and 6 p.m. on a Sunday early in December Advent Services in December, and a Vespers Service at 4 p.m. on Easter Eve.
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 marie.ashworth@att.net.
Directions:
Take Oleander Drive east (Rt 76) from Wilmington over Bradley Creek to Airlie Dr.
Turn Right down Airlie Dr past the entrance to Airlie gardens to next right into the grounds of the Mt Lebanon Chapel.
