‘It’s a shame:’ Historic Brunswick Town chapel damaged by visitors

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Staff and volunteers at a historic site in Brunswick County are sounding the alarm After people have repeatedly damaged a centuries’ old structure. 

St. Phillip’s Church at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site dates back to the 1760s, before the American revolution.  

The rare structure has stood the test of time but recently some visitors have climbed the church’s brick walls to sit in its large windowsills. That’s caused some of the building’s bricks to break.  

Jim McKee is the historic site’s manager. He said the building used to have a roped off path before it was removed, but he said the ropes may have to return. 

“This thing has withstood hurricanes, it’s withstood fire, it’s withstood US Navy bombardment, I mean so it’s withstood a lot and it’s a shame that what could be it’s demise is just visitation,” McKee said. 

Mckee noted the building is the largest pre-revolutionary brick chapel that’s still standing in the state.