Richardson Chapel United Methodist Church

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Richardson Chapel United Methodist Church in Lavaca County. Now settle in, because this one starts before the church even had a name. The early members of what would become Richardson Chapel United Methodist Church were formerly enslaved people.

Before emancipation, they had attended the Methodist Episcopal Church of Hallettsville. When freedom came, these men and women chose to build something of their own, and they chose to do it under the guidance of the Methodist Episcopal Church. That is a decision worth sitting with for a moment.

They had every reason to walk away from the institution entirely, and instead they said, we are going to make it ours. On January 10, 1882, five church trustees purchased one and a half acres of land for sixty dollars. A permanent church home, at last.

Records show the first structure was built prior to 1890, with Reverend Max Henderson serving as the first minister. Now the congregation had already been affiliated with a Methodist Texas conference since 1874, so by the time those trustees signed that deed, this community had been worshipping and growin for years. The Southwest Texas Conference put numbers to that growth.

In 1878, membership stood at 80. By 1885, it had climbed to 167. And by 1900, the congregation had grown to nearly 250 souls.

The minister of Richardson Chapel didn't just tend to one flock, either. Other churches in the area were served by the Richardson Chapel minister, and as transportation became less of an obstacle, several of those rural churches merged right back into Richardson Chapel. Now, for a good while the church carried the name Methodist Episcopal Church.

Then came 1911, and the annual conference was hosted right there at the church. A man named Rev. L.R.

Richardson attended that gathering, and the congregation was moved enough by that occasion to rename the church in his honor. Richardson Chapel. The name that has stood ever since.

Over the years, additions and alterations kept coming. A new parsonage in 1890. Another in 1908.

More changes in the 1950s. The building grew as the community grew. The marker closes with something simple and true.

The history of Richardson Chapel United Methodist Church is the heritage of many Lavaca County citizens. From humble beginnings, the congregation remains a beacon of light in the community. And when you consider where it started, who started it, and what they built on sixty dollars and the decision to claim something as their own, that beacon has been burning for a long, long time.

What the marker says

The early members of the Richardson Chapel United Methodist Church were former slaves that attended the Methodist Episcopal Church of Hallettsville prior to emancipation. Freedom allowed these former slaves to form their own church, and they chose to do so under the guidance of the Methodist Episcopal Church. On January 10, 1882, five church trustees purchased 1.5 acres of land for sixty dollars for a permanent church home. Records for the church building indicate that the first structure was built prior to 1890 with Reverend Max Henderson as the first minister. The church has been affiliated with a Methodist Texas conference since 1874 and has been under the guidance of over fifty pastors. According to Southwest Texas Conference records, the membership totaled 80 in 1878 and, by 1885, had increased to 167. By 1900, the membership grew to almost 250. Other churches in the area were served by the Richardson Chapel minister. When transportation became less of an issue, several rural churches merged with Richardson Chapel. Originally, the church was named Methodist Episcopal Church until they hosted the annual conference in 1911, with Rev. L.R. Richardson attending. The congregation renamed the church in his honor. Many additions and alterations have been made over the years, including a new parsonage in 1890, 1908 and in the 1950s. The history of the Richardson Chapel United Methodist Church is the heritage of many Lavaca County citizens. From humble beginnings, the congregation of Richardson Chapel remains a beacon of light in the community.