DUANE
Duane's take
The way the official marker tells it, here's the story of Shiloh A.M.E. Church in Galveston County. Now, when you talk about the oldest churches in Galveston, Shiloh African Methodist Episcopal Church has earned its place at that table.
The congregation was organized before 1870 — before 1870 — which means these people were gathering, worshipping, and building something real in the immediate aftermath of some of the hardest years this country has ever known. In 1870, a former Galvestonian named Henry H. Brower sold the church its site.
He wasn't present himself — the sale came through his agent, a man named Nahor B. Yard. And on the church's side of that transaction stood three trustees: Peter Burns, William Davis, and Solomon Reily.
Three names worth saying out loud. The marker calls them, plainly and beautifully, a hopeful ethnic group. And hopeful is exactly the right word, because what came next required every ounce of that hope.
With faith in their God and modest funds — and I want you to sit with that phrase a moment, modest funds — Shiloh's members took on five hundred dollars in debt on their property and paid it off. Paid it clean off. By 1877.
Then 1894 came calling. A hurricane destroyed the house considered the original church. The congregation, led by the Reverend Warren, got back up and erected a small new frame building.
Rebuilt. Regrouped. Worshipped.
And then 1900 arrived. The great Galveston storm. If you know anything about Galveston, you know those words carry weight that no dramatizing can improve upon.
That small frame building was destroyed. Again. The members of Shiloh A.M.E. had now lost their sanctuary twice.
But they struggled again, and this time under the Reverend D. Reese, they built another sanctuary. That one served the congregation faithfully until it was razed in 1922.
The following year, 1923, the present structure went up — a thirty-six thousand dollar building that stands as the chapter these people finally got to keep. Nine ministers have begun their sacred labors in this church. Nine.
And at the start of Shiloh's second century, its leadership included the Right Reverend O. L. Sherman as presiding bishop, Dr.
Leland W. Jenkins as presiding elder, and the Reverend David F. Harris serving as pastor.
And carved into the base of this marker, a quiet honor: presented by a son, Thomas J. Green, in memory of Mrs. Hortense Smith.
A church built by community, remembered by family. That's Shiloh.
What the marker says
One of oldest churches in Galveston. Congregation was organized before 1870, when former Galvestonian Henry H. Brower sold this church site to the Shiloh African Methodist Episcopal Church. Purchase was made through Brower's agent, Nahor B. Yard. Acting for the church were trustees Peter Burns, William Davis, and Solomon Reily. The churchmen of 1870 represented a hopeful ethnic group. With faith in their God and with modest funds, Shiloh members paid off $500 in debts on their property by 1877. An 1894 hurricane destroyed house that was considered the original church. Led by the Rev. Warren, members erected a small new frame building. However, in the visitation of the great Galveston storm of 1900, this was destroyed. Again the members struggled and, under the Rev. D. Reese, built another sanctuary, which served until razed in 1922. Present $36,000 structure was erected in 1923. Nine ministers have begun sacred labors in this church. Shiloh's leadership at start of its second century includes the Rt. Rev. O. L. Sherman, presiding bishop; Dr. Leland W. Jenkins, presiding elder; the Rev. David F. Harris, pastor. Incise in base: In Honor of Mrs. Hortense Smith; presented by son, Thomas J. Green