Circuit Rider Built English Chapel

Transylvania County’s Methodist churches got their start by holding services in homes or shared meeting houses.  In remote areas, like the mountains of Western North Carolina, circuit riders traveled assigned areas preaching to settlers and organized congregations.

In 1857, 29-year-old Alexander Fletcher English came to what was then Henderson County as a circuit rider.  Two years later he married Melvina Young, the daughter of Strawbridge Young who was an early settler on the Davidson River. 

Rev. English was strongly opposed to slavery and the viewpoint of the Methodist Episcopal Church South on this issue.  He gathered together a small congregation of followers and started a church that remained with the northern body of the Methodist Church on property belonging to his father-in-law.  The church was originally known as Young’s Chapel but soon became English Chapel.  On May 12, 1867 Young sold the property to English for $5.00. 

English Chapel School

The first church building was a built of timber from English’s land.  For many years it served Methodists on one Sunday and other congregations the remainder of the month.  It was also the schoolhouse for children throughout the Davidson River and Avery’s Creek area well into the 1900s.

In the mid-1890s George Vanderbilt bought thousands of acres spreading nearly from Asheville to Brevard, including land all around the English Chapel.

Sylvan Valley News articles from the early 1900s regularly report of preaching, old-time singings, box suppers, revivals and meetings held at English Chapel.  An April 8, 1904 article states, “As a church building the chapel is not much to brag on, but it stands in one of nature’s beauty spots on the banks of Davidson river—an ideal spot for a church; and by erecting a neat house of worship Mr. Vanderbilt would win the loving remembrance of all the good people of the section.”

George Vanderbilt died suddenly in 1914.  Within two years his widow, Edith, sold 86,700 acres to the U.S. government to help create Pisgah National Forest.  The unique location within a national forest have helped to preserve the natural beauty around English Chapel for nearly another 100 years.

Congregation at English Chapel

Repairs were made to the original wooden chapel in 1914 but it was not until 1940 that a new church was constructed.  The new church was constructed with rocks from the Davidson River as well as from neighboring states.  The words “English Chapel” are spelled out over the entrance.

Located near the Davidson River Campground in the Pisgah National Forest English Chapel continues to hold weekly services for locals and visitors.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library.  Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs.  For more information, comments or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-3151 X242.