GALVESTON CHURCH AMONG THOSE SELECTED FOR THE NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO PRESERVE HISTORIC BLACK CHURCHES

By Jo-Carolyn Goode, Managing Editor

The bones of a structure are what make it strong. It needs to be strong enough to withstand hurricane-type winds, blazing hot fires, torrential rains, and other inclement weather conditions. For 175 years, the bones of Reedy Chapel in Galveston, Texas, have been tested again and again. Each time, the chapel was bruised, but it did not crumble. The first church may have been destroyed by fire in 1885, but it was the faith and spirit of the people that kept the church alive. The present-day church was erected in 1886 with such beautiful architecture that one could marvel at the craftsmanship for hours. The chapel has sustained structural damage over the years, but it still stands strong. However, something can only get battered for so long before the wear and tear starts to show. With limited funds, repairs have not been made. Fortunately, the island church is getting some needed funds to restore, repair, and renew it so it can stand for years to come.

Reedy Chapel is the first and oldest African Methodist Episcopal church in Texas, established in 1848. Sitting on land given to slaves by their white owners so they could have a place to worship, early parishioners didn’t even gather inside a building-like structure. However, once a fixture was constructed, the chapel became a symbol of freedom and made its mark on history. The church was named Reedy Chapel after Rev. Houston Reedy, who followed the first pastor of the church, Rev. M.M. Clark. It was on church grounds where enslaved men and women first learned of their freedom under General Order No. 3. Major General Gordon Granger read the federal order freeing slaves on June 19, 1865. Today, that date is celebrated as the Juneteenth holiday. The church also became a place where freed men and women began to envision a better path of life as the church served as a school in which they were educated. Today, the church is an example of what happens when you mix a powerful faith with its people to serve the masses. History such as this can’t be forgotten or washed up. It was treasured and remembered in honor of those who lived it and made sacrifices for it, for those who live today to know how far they have come, and for those not yet born to keep the history alive. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is about the business of preserving the history of all of America. Black history has not always been taught or considered important, despite the fact that America would not be the country it is today without the contributions of countless Black Americans. The struggle from where Black America started to where it is today is extremely important so that past injustices will not be repeated. History tells us that many struggles were fought in churches throughout the nation. Churches were and still are safe havens and places where Black people came together to organize and plan movements that changed the course of this nation. Many still hold historic artifacts and stories of the past. The National Trust for Historic Preservation's African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund will invest in reimagining, redesigning, and deploying historic preservation to protect the cultural assets and legacies of black churches thanks to a $20 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. Through their Preserving Black Churches program, they want to protect, tell their stories of resiliency and hope, and carry on their missions into the future. Churches may also use funds to hire staff and help the communities they serve with programs that uplift the family.

“Leaving an indelible imprint on our society, historic Black churches hold an enduring legacy of community, spirituality, and freedom that continues to span generations," said Brent Leggs, executive director, African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, and senior vice president, National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Over 1,000 Black churches tackled the lengthy process of applying for the grant and sent their applications off with prayer. Thirty-five churches have now been notified that they are among those to receive the first round of grants, which total $4 million. Churches will receive a range of $50,000 to $200,000 in grant money. Reedy Chapel has learned their grant is for $100,000. Plans for the funds are to restore its masonry, stucco, and stained-glass windows, improve its climate resilience, and help continue its traditions of gathering and celebrating.

"We focus not only on the preservation of the physical buildings, but also on the profound stories embodied in their walls, landscapes, cemeteries, and beyond. Their role as centers of Black religion, culture, and service is fundamental to understanding the lived experience of Black Americans," said Leggs to Religion News Service. "Our grants will help advance efforts to improve physical conditions so that these churches can open their doors and continue to fulfill their religious missions and community programs."

Other churches included in the first round of grants are First Bryan Baptist Church in Savannah, Georgia, considered to be one of the oldest African American Baptist churches in the U.S.; Ohio’s Cory United Methodist Church, where Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X spoke in 1963-1964; St. Paul Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, located on the historic HBCU campus of Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee; and Manzanola United Methodist Church in Colorado, built by 50 Black homesteaders in 1915, among others.

More grants will be disbursed as the Action Fund has $80 million in funding, making it the largest U.S. resource dedicated to the preservation of African American historic places. This is such a great way to celebrate and honor Black History. For more information, visit SavingPlaces.org.