Beyonce has reportedly bought a 100-year-old church in New Orleans
Queen Bey has many followers, nay worshippers, across the globe, so news that she may have a bought a 100-year-old church for her 'flock' shouldn't be any surprising. But before we get carried away by how awesome this sounds, let's put the facts out there: Beyonce is not the confirmed owner. The New Orleans church was purchased by The Noble Jones Trust which is connected to Beyonce, Solange, and the rest of the Knowles family. So technically Beyonce did not buy the church.
The church is located on Camp Street in New Orleans’s Garden District. The Noble Jones Trust is partly cared for by the Knowles' family friend Vernell Jackson Keys, who signed the paperwork for the property.
According to the New Orleans Advocate’s recent list of property transfers, the previous owners, the Seventh & Camp Church of Christ, sold the 7,500-square-foot space to Noble Jones Trust on May 9 for just $100. (By contrast, Redfin lists the last sell price, also on May 9, as $850,000). Did Beyonce get a discount for being Queen? Who knows?
Both Beyoncé and Solange own property in The Big Easy, which means it’s possible that either of them will be the beneficiary of the purchase.
Solange moved into a residence in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter in late 2014, and Beyoncé’s management company also purchased a 10,000-square-foot home in the Garden District—just five blocks down from the new Camp Street purchase back in May 2015.
A third possibility is that the recent purchase is unrelated to the Knowles sisters at all and was instead sought by another member associated with the trust, as much as members of the Beyhive hope that the church is a new haven for Beyoncé worship.
At the current moment, it is not clear what will become of the Camp Street Church as most of the members have passed away. However, its HU-RD1 zoning designation means that it could potentially be used as a single- or multifamily home.
The church features a stone façade, hardwood floors, and 15-to-18-foot ceilings within. Tall, classically arched windows, paired with higher circular windows, provide plenty of natural light within the space, which currently houses rows of wooden chairs, an elevated stage, and a basement area with concrete floors.
John Weil, the seller’s agent with Latter & Blum, told The Advocate that he’s been "sworn to secrecy" regarding the buyer, but did reveal that it is "a solid building that needs a lot of TLC".