Restoring Belmont Chapel 2021-2024

It began in 2014 with a group of interested folks from the Newport community. They were encouraged to establish a 501 (c) (3) for the purpose of raising the funds need for the restoration. They took up the challenge, created the Belmont Chapel Foundation, leased the chapel from the Island Cemetery Company, and began soliciting support from the community. They received enough funding early on to pay for the work to remove the trees and vines encompassing the building and to patch up the roof to prevent further weather damage to the interior. Their efforts stalled from 2014 to 2019 until the change in the management of the cemetery created momentum for serious fundraising. At that time, with funding from the van Beuren Charitable Foundation, the BCF contracted with Hannah Street Consulting and developed a strategic plan for fundraising. With the plan in hand and community support, the group began a Capital Campaign to raise the $2.5M need for a complete restoration. The community response was phenomenal with foundations and the state contributing $1.6M and individual families and trusts donating $730K.

The restoration efforts were meticulously planned and executed, with a team of skilled professionals working tirelessly to address the various challenges posed by the passage of time. Every aspect of the restoration process was approached with the utmost care and reverence.