Allen Chapel A. M. E. Church

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. This is the story of Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church in Brazos County, Texas.

Pull over if you need to. This one goes back a ways. Way back.

Methodism among African American Texans, the marker wants you to know, did not begin after the Civil War. It predates it. The First Church was established in 1848, and that fact alone ought to stop you for a moment.

The earliest known African American minister in Brazos County was Reverend Emmanuel Hammitt, and he served under Reverend W.S. South. Now hold that name, Reverend Hammitt, because his story is not done yet.

After emancipation, African Americans were free to establish their own churches. And that is exactly what happened. Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church takes its name from Reverend Richard Allen, who founded the roots of the A.M.E. in 1787.

That's the lineage this congregation stands in. Long before the first chapel had walls, before it even had a proper roof, the congregation was meeting. The first gathering of the Allen Chapel congregation was before 1870, and in those early days, church services were held in brush arbors.

Out in the open, under a canopy of branches, a community was forming itself into something that would last. And Reverend Hammitt, the man who had served under another, became the first minister of this congregation in 1866. Then in 1868, Reverend Charles B.

Foster replaced Hammitt as pastor. The congregation kept growing, kept holding together, until July of 1870, when they purchased land to build the first actual chapel, on the corner of North Houston and East 22nd Street. A building.

Their own. And Allen Chapel did not only tend to souls. In 1914, when the school for African American children was destroyed by fire, the church opened itself up and served as a school.

That is the kind of institution this was. A second church was built in 1920, and the current church went up in 1961. Through all of it, the congregation kept reaching outward, supporting the N.A.A.C.P., the Bryan Charity Fund, the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, the Bethune Women's Club, and the Gideons.

The church continues to fellowship with local churches, with proceeds going to those in need. The marker puts it plainly and I think it earns the plain telling: Allen Chapel A.M.E. is among the oldest continuing churches in all of Brazos County. And if you measure the formation of a church by the presence of a minister and a congregation, then Allen Chapel would be one of the earliest organized African Methodist Episcopal congregations in the state of Texas.

Started in brush arbors. Still standing. That's a Texas story right there.

What the marker says

Methodism among African American Texans predates the Civil War with the First Church being established in 1848. The earliest known African American minister in Brazos County was reverend Emmanuel Hammitt who served under Reverend W.S. South. After emancipation African Americans were free to establish their own churches. Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.) is named after Reverend Richard Allen, who founded roots of the A.M.E.. in 1787. the first meeting of the Allen chapel congregation was before 1870. Church services were held in brush arbors and reverend Hammitt became the first minister in 1866. Reverend Charles B. Foster replaced Hammitt as pastor of the Allen Chapel congregation in 1868. The congregation purchased land in July of 1870 to build the first chapel located on North Houston and East 22nd Street. Allen Chapel also served as a school for African American children in 1914 when their school was destroyed by fire. The second church was built in 1920 and the current church in 1961. The congregation has supported many organizations including the N.A.A.C.P., Bryan Charity Fund, Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, Bethune Women's Club and the Gideons. The church continues to fellowship with local churches with proceeds going to those in need. Allen Chapel A.M.E. church is among the oldest continuing churches in Brazos County. If the formation of a church is measured by the presence of a minister and congregation then Allen Chapel would be one of the earliest organized African Methodist Episcopal Congregations in Texas.