The choir of Kadesh A.M.E. Zion Church in Edenton performs this Friday and Saturday as part of the town's annual Candlelight Christmas Tour. The church itself is full of history. A former slave built the imposing structure in 1897. Hurricane Isabel badly damaged it in 2003. And ever since, the congregation and the town have been desperately trying to save its history. If only they could raise the funds...
YOU CAN ALSO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE AT WRAL.COM. >>> IT'S THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CANDLELIGHT TOUR PICKETS MAINLY VIRTUAL THIS YEAR AND IT FEATURES A CHOIR FROM A HISTORICAL CHURCH. THE TAR HEEL TRAVELER BRINGS US THAT STORY IN THE GREAT EFFORTS TO SAVE IT? >> Reporter: IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL UNTIL THE HURRICANE HIT. THE WINDOWS ARE GONE, AND THE PEOPLE ARE GONE AND THE BUZZARDS ARE HERE. AND THE CONGREGATION IS HERE AT A TEMPORARY CHURCH. THE NAME IS NOT TEMPORARY AT ALL A.M.E. ZION. THE GLORY IS NOT GONE. THEY STILL HAVE A CHURCH. IT'S JUST NOT THEIR HOME CHURCH. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A MEMBER OF THIS CHURCH? >> SINCE I WAS IN THE THIRD GRADE AND I'M NOW 89 YEARS OLD. >> Reporter: IT HAS STOOD SINCE 1897. >> THEY WERE BOAT BUILDERS AND FORMER SLAVES . THE LOOKS JUST LIKE A SHIP. >> Reporter: THE RAIN AND THE WIND CAME. THE SLOPED FLOOR REMAINS. AND THE STAINED-GLASS HAS BEEN SAVED. AND NOW IT'S A MATTER OF SAVING THE CHURCH AND THE PAST. >> THIS CHURCH IS LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. >> Reporter: THE CHURCH DOES NOT TAKE THAT LIGHTLY. >> THIS WAS A PLACE TO GO AND BE FREE. >> Reporter: FORMER SLAVES WERE EAGER TO GET HERE BECAUSE THEY KNEW THEY WERE COMING TO SOMETHING GOOD. >> Reporter: HERE IN HISTORIC EDEN 10. >> THE TOWN AND THE COMMUNITY OF EDENTON HAS TO SAY THIS CHURCH. >> Reporter: IT'S GOING TO TAKE $2 MILLION. >> YOU IMAGINE ONCE THIS IS RESTORED WALKING IN HERE AND SINGING. IT WILL BE A HALLELUJAH A GOOD TIME.
