“It’s the oldest African American church in Texas,” said Jerre Tracy, executive director at Historic Fort Worth Inc. “It would be so nice if it would continue to be discovered.”
Allen Chapel is historically significant in many ways. Built in 1914, the church was designated as a recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1983, and in 1984 it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It’s been the subject of a PBS piece, and important enough to be sponsored by the Texas Society of Architects, among others.
Architect William Sidney Pittman, the first African-American architect to practice in Texas, designed the building in the Tudor Gothic Revival style. Pittman, who is also responsible for the historic Knights of Pythias Temple in Dallas’ Deep Ellum, studied at the Tuskegee Institute and Drexel Institute. His wife was Portia Washington, the daughter of Booker T. Washington. A native of Alabama, Pittman raised his family in Dallas.
Pittman also designed other Southern churches, but this high-profile architect designed schools, a town hall, and community buildings. He was the first African-American architect to be awarded a government contract. In addition, he designed the Colored Carnegie Library, the only library for Blacks in Houston, making him the only black architect to design one of more than 2,500 libraries that Andrew Carnegie funded.
Allen Chapel, originally an African-Methodist-Episcopal church, was named after Richard Allen, a former slave who became a bishop. The church was established in 1870, but it was on July 22, 1914, that Allen Chapel was dedicated with Rev. R.S. Jenkins serving as its leader. The price tag? $20,000.
The church, still active today, was struck by lightning, and its bell tower had to be removed. It still has not yet been replaced, but Historic Fort Worth placed the church on its 2023 list of Most Endangered Places. Allen Chapel’s status as a state and national landmark should qualify it for the Texas Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program.
“It’s a sweet chapel, and it’s pretty,” said Suzy Coleman, special events coordinator for Historic Fort Worth. “What we want to do to help them is to get their bell tower back.” The tour should help shine a light on the historic structure and its congregation.
“Good things need to happen,” Tracy said. “It’s time for the community to wake up around them. They have the most joyous spirit you could ever be around.”
Thursday’s Allen Chapel tour is a free event for Historic Fort Worth members and costs $25 for non-members. Reservations may be made here.
Another Historic Fort Worth event, the 2023 Party with the Artists, is planned for 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sept. 7 at The Woman’s Club of Fort Worth, 1316 Pennsylvania Ave. A gallery of more than 300 paintings will highlight the fundraiser. Aaron Rowe will be the event’s featured artist.
Non-member tickets cost $175 and can be purchased here.
