Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ
Houston, Harris County, Texas
Marker Inscription
The Reverend G. B. M. Turner and educator E. O. Smith organized Pilgrim Congregational Church, Houston's first African American Congregational church, in the Freedmen's Town community in 1904. Early services were held in Turner's home. Permanent structures were built on Matthews at Victor in 1907 and on Wilson at Cleveland in 1914. After a 1936 fire, the church met in temporary quarters for several years. Since most members then resided in the Third Ward, the congregation built a new church on Live Oak at Berry Street in 1942. The church's name was changed to Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ in 1957 as a result of the denominational merger of the Congregational Christian churches and the Evangelical and Reformed church. The growing church purchased property at 3115 Blodgett Street in 1965; the first services were held at this site on March 23, 1974. Several early members left their impact in the fields of education, labor and civil rights by establishing organizations such as the Colored Carnegie Library (1909) and the local chapter of the NAACP (1918). Houston Independent School District (HISD) schools were named for E. O. Smith, G. B. M. Turner and T. R. Chatham; the HISD administration building is named for Hattie Mae White, the first African American HISD board member. John D. Moore served as pastor from 1936 until 1973. Pilgrim Church has impacted the community through outreach programs such as scouting, food for the hungry, a thrift shop and a community center. Today, the church continues to honor the courageous African captives of the 1839 "Amistad event" and their Congregationalist defenders. (2009)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Founded in 1904 in Houston's Freedmen's Town, Pilgrim Congregational was the city's first African American Congregational church, begun in the Rev. G.B.M. Turner's home. Its members left a lasting civic mark—helping establish the Colored Carnegie Library in 1909 and the local NAACP chapter in 1918—and city schools were later named for early leaders including educator E.O. Smith. Renamed after a 1957 denominational merger, the congregation moved to Blodgett Street in 1974 and still honors its ties to the 1839 Amistad captives and their Congregationalist defenders.
Why it matters
The church stands at the crossroads of Black education, labor, and civil rights in Houston, carrying a lineage of freedom struggle from the Amistad to the NAACP.
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Related people
- · Rev. G. B. M. Turner
- · E. O. Smith
- · Hattie Mae White
- · John D. Moore
Related events
- · Amistad case (1839)
- · Founding of the Houston NAACP chapter (1918)
Themes & tags
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