Community Engagement
Project Overview
In June 2023, Taveau Church was purchased by Preservation South Carolina from the United Methodist Church. Weathered and deteriorating from the effects of time, Taveau Church was in need of an emergency structural stabilization effort. Starting on December 26th 2023, the process of structural restoration was mobilized and three months later Taveau was raised and seated upon a new foundation of footings/piers.
In October of 2024, the Cordesville Community Tour and Input session launched intentional conversations facilitated by The Asiko Group, to engage the local community in the planning and potential uses of Taveau Church after the restoration effort. Such conversations and community engagement are still occurring today, and with each conversation genuine steps are taken to bring the community’s vision of Taveau Church’s future to reality.
“Taveau’s restoration, however, is about more than just preserving a historical structure because of its unique architecture. It would also be a testament to the faith of the Black men and women who preserved Taveau as a place for their worship and coincidentally, passed down 175 years of Black worship experience including inspired preaching and soulful spirituals . Taveau tells this important story as well as the story of the local area, its land, its people, and its culture."
—Reverend Clayton J. Jones, Sr.
Community Stakeholders
Community Engagement Strategy
Timeline
10/19/24
Taveau Church Community Input and Tour;
Cordesville First Baptist Church
11/08/24 & 11/09/24
Community Open House; Taveau Church
11/16/24
Final Recommendations; Truth Tabernacle
11/16/24
Present Findings to Taveau Legacy Committee, Sacred Cooridor Committee, and Preservation SC Board
Ongoing
Continue engaging community with updates and feedback as needed for restoration process
01.Engage + Inform
To begin the community engagement process, The Asiko Group began engaging community members to best understand the community’s culture and how they gather. The Cordesville Unincorporated Citizens Group served as a strong ally to gather community members for the first session. Culturally conscious marketing materials were designed with intention to spread the news about the restoration project.
Building upon the rich narrative and timeline on Preservation South Carolina’s website served as a dedicated encyclopedia for information concerning the restoration project, along with sharing the community’s experience with re-engaging with Taveau. From the beginning of the project’s steps and even the history of Taveau Church, PSC has all a plethora of documented information.
Utilizing in person, canvassing and word of mouth outreach techniques, community interest, community members, stakeholders and groups began on a journey together as the Church welcomed them into its sacred walls in hopes its faithful withstanding over time, would birth a new awakening from community input and recommendations.
02.Community Feedback,Tours & Open House
Community members and stakeholders were greeted by The Asiko Group and Preservation SC thanking them for their time and interest in the project, and the reason for seeking funding for Taveau’s restoration. Understanding many residents had not seen the inside of Taveau or stepped foot in the church in decades, a transported group tour coupled with community feedback, was designed to build a collective experience for the day.
During the process of touring Taveau, interactions between guests and history occurred. From the reading of a grave stone, the feel of weathered wood doors, and the tides of shadows from Spanish moss along the exterior facade. A church that was established In 1835, was being rediscovered by new members of its local community. With the structural bones of Taveau being in good shape, a sense of affirmation was in the air, that the restoration of Taveau was both tangible and important; and that this community, along with reverence to those that came before them could make it happen.
During the Input session, community members were asked why Cordesville was so special to them, and how Taveau Church could serve as a compliment to the resident’s desires for the community. Although the 14 attendees present enjoyed the experience, it was suggested that an
Open House would give others an opportunity to see the space before making recommendations. An Open House was scheduled over two days giving community members and stakeholders an opportunity to visit Taveau majestic walls and ask questions to PSC staff and board members.
Taveau received around 15 guests sharing their appreciation for the careful restoration and space that meant so much to their family and community. Many shared their appreciation and were hopeful for what would come next.
The final piece of the engagement puzzle consisted of sharing the full experience from the feedback and tours with everyone to make final recommendations for the beloved Taveau.
The session was held at Truth Tabernacle Church, leaving the best for last. The elders of the community graced us with their presence sealing the feedback received over the past engagement sessions with storytelling and hopes for the community. After reviewing feedback, they agreed the Church would be best used as a gathering space to honor the ancestors and spiritual energy in the space.
In addition, they worked in groups from the floor plans to dream big for unlimited possibilities.
03.Final Recommendations
VISION:
Recommendation #1: Opportunity to hold funerals and lay loved ones to rest in the cemetery
Recommendation #2: Place to preserve the culture and narrative of Taveau Church members, ancestors and community members
WHAT IS NEEDED TO MAKE THIS WORK:
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Site coordinator
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Operations committee to govern space
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Tour guide
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Yard maintenance
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Sustainable funding to maintain operations (community events and donors)
Next Steps
Conclusion
The stewardship planning effort was a success in several areas for Preservation South Carolina and the Taveau Restoration project. Overall, the project clarified the future steps that the organization should take to develop a sustainable function for the church. Key areas of accomplishment include the following:
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The efforts to identify key stakeholders expanded the reach of the project and its awareness within the community;
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The engagement of these stakeholders solidified existing relationships and created new alliances for future action;
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A strong consensus for future uses was identified and confirmed by various sectors of the community;
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The recognition of resources needed to adequately realize the vision for Taveau Church is invaluable as future long-term partnerships are formed to steward Taveau Church.
The support of the National Trust’s African American Heritage Action Fund and the Preserving Black Churches Planning Grant was indispensable in fostering a process that recognized existing relationships but was not limited by those relationships.
The stewardship planning effort further demonstrated the local community's strong attachments and affection for the church and its role as both an historical and cultural anchor. These sentiments echoed opinions expressed from the earliest engagement with the site. The project also surfaced challenges in restoring the church, including the challenge of building a wider, more regional, base of support for the restoration and stewardship of Taveau.
Looking forward, this planning effort laid the foundation for a wider participation in the project and discovered a deep consensus about an active future for the church.
Project made possible by the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund
The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund is a program launched by the National Trust for Historic Preservation aimed at preserving and supporting historic places that represent African American cultural heritage, essentially acting as the largest initiative in the United States dedicated to safeguarding Black history sites across the country;