Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Al Blanton and Nick Rizzo
A historic Jasper church building has found new life as a modern event space. Chapel on 4th, located in the former Jasper First Christian Church, officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 20.
The building was constructed in 1926 and served the congregation for nearly 100 years before closing in 2023. It has now been transformed by Kendra Brown and project partner Nina O’Rear Soileau, who also worked together on Sanctuary, another local church-to-venue renovation.
Brown said the project started almost by chance.
“It was just an abandoned building that was for sale, and we got a whim,” she said. “After purchasing it, we decided it would make a great wedding chapel because it was already set up that way. And with the extra classrooms, we saw the opportunity for office space, which Jasper needs.”
The renovation took about ten months. Brown and Soileau focused on keeping the building’s original features intact while updating the essentials.
“After pulling up the carpet and seeing the wood, we wanted to keep as much of the original pieces as possible,” Brown said. “The structure was in very good condition. We just repaired, repainted, and updated the plumbing and electrical to bring it back to life.”
Chapel on 4th includes a chapel, bridal suite, groom’s room, musician’s lounge, and a reception area with a full kitchen. The building also houses The Offices on 18th, a section of rentable office space now home to Jasper Wellness and Recovery’s fitness studio, B&W Roofing, Courage Counseling, and Leann Frost Counseling.
Brown said the venue is now open for bookings.
“We can host weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, or other events,” she said. “We’re booking now, and people can contact me by phone, 205-388-1412, or through our Facebook page.” WL
The Chapel on 4th is located at 400 18th Street West, Jasper, AL, 35501.
