Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church
Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas
Marker Inscription
The oldest and largest African Methodist Episcopal Church in Fort Worth. This church organization was organized about 1870 by the Rev. Moody, pioneer circuit rider, and five area settlers. Members met in homes until facilities were built at this site soon after it was purchased in 1878. The name Allen was adopted as part of the congregational title in 1879 to honor Richard Allen, a former slave who became the first Bishop of the A.M.E. faith. Led by 29 pastors in over a century of service, Allen Chapel has played a significant role in Fort Worth's development. (1982)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Organized about 1870 by a pioneer circuit rider and a handful of settlers, this became the oldest and largest African Methodist Episcopal congregation in Fort Worth. Members met in homes until they built on this site after purchasing it in 1878, and the following year adopted the name Allen to honor Richard Allen, a formerly enslaved man who became the first bishop of the A.M.E. Church. Across more than a century and dozens of pastors, the congregation played a central role in the city's growth.
Why it matters
Founded just after emancipation, the church shows how independent Black congregations became anchors of community, leadership, and self-determination in the postwar South.
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Related people
- · Richard Allen
- · Rev. Moody
Themes & tags
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