Is it possible that Hodges Chapel AME Church began with Richard Allen’s protest? He stood against racial discrimination. It happened at St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia in 1787. Allen chose to form a Black congregation rather than face indignities in a White-controlled church.
In 1816, Allen united several Black Methodist congregations. He created a new denomination. It became known as the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Before the Civil War, the AME Church could not operate in Texas. Most of the slaveholding South also prohibited it.
M. M. Clark was the first African Methodist Episcopal Church missionary in Texas. He arrived in Galveston in 1866. This was after the Confederacy surrendered and slavery ended. Clark wanted to organize Black Methodists. He mirrored the efforts of African Methodist missionaries elsewhere.
Texas had no AME congregations before. Yet many Black Methodists had worshipped in their masters’ Methodist churches. Clark aimed to bring them into the AME Church. He also sought to recruit others to Methodism. Bishop Jabez P. Campbell from New Orleans initially supervised these congregations.
A meeting occurred in Galveston around 1867. Its purpose was to organize an annual conference in Texas. General conferences handle church matters every four years. Annual conferences address church affairs within states.
The first Texas conference convened on October 22, 1868. It was in Galveston. Bishop James A. Shorter presided. Early leaders of African Methodism in Texas attended. They included Houston Reedy, Steven Patton, Emmanuel Hammitt, and Johnson Reed. The conference claimed 3,000 members and probationers that year. Membership grew steadily afterward. By 1890, Texas membership reached 23,000. It hit 34,000 by 1926. Only Baptists had more Black churchgoers.
Most early Texas Conference churches existed within a triangle. This triangle was formed by Galveston, Bryan, and San Antonio. Over time, the number of AME members in Texas grew. It spread across the state. The West Texas Conference formed in 1875. The Central Texas Conference formed in 1883. By 1890, the church had four conferences. Nine existed by 1926.
The Texas Conference established Paul Quinn College in 1872. It was located in Austin at the Metropolitan AME Church. Later, the school moved to Waco. Besides religious functions, the African Methodist Church aided Blacks. It helped them maintain community. It also provided a place to voice demands for civil rights.
Today, Hodges Chapel AME Church continues this legacy. It stands as a testament to faith. It symbolizes resilience and community. It also provides a place of worship and fellowship. The church actively uses modern technology. During certain times, services are available via telephone conference. This ensures community safety. It allows members to connect. The phone call access is (425) 436-6336. The access code is 595599.
Hodges Chapel AME Church stands as a beacon. It reflects a rich history. It embodies the spirit of its founders.