Joshua Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church

This text was organized during application to the Texas Historical Commission for a state historical marker. The specific author is unknown.

In 1866 an African Methodist Church was organized in a farmhouse about ten miles outside of Waxahachie. This was so soon after the Civil War that blacks were afraid to hold public meetings, and due to this and the impossibility of proper guidance and lack of money the church failed. It was ten years later, in 1876, that another A. M. E. Church was reorganized in Ovilla. There were fifteen families in this communion. The church moved into an old school building in Waxahachie across the street from the present A. M. E. Church on Aiken Street.1

In 1879, the present plot of land was purchased by three ministers, the Reverend Monroe Conner, the Reverend M. Lowe and the Reverend Joshua Goins for three hundred dollars from Cyrus Aiken.2 The building was moved from across the street, and the church was named Joshua Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in honor of their first minister, Joshua Goins. He was known as the "father of African Methodism in Texas," having organized forty-one churches and built fourteen during his lifetime.3

In 1916 the Reverend W. O. Boyd became the pastor of Joshua Chapel. He realized the need for expansion. The present red brick, two story building was erected. It was built by W. S. Pittman, architect, and C. R. Powell, contractor, for the sum of four thousand eight hundred. Both men were from Alabama. Mr. Pittman was the son-in-law of Booker T. Washington. The church was referred to as the New Joshua Chapel. In 1917 the cornerstone was laid with this inscription: G. R. Powel, contractor; W. S. Pittman, contractor; the Reverend J. A. Jones, presiding elder; the Reverend W. O. Boyd, pastor. Trustees were William Richardson, J. H. Flowers, A. Duke, T. J. Frierson, Maury Munchus, T. J. Johnson, F. G. Drake, I. Oliphant, and Henry Ritchie.

The seating capacity of the sanctuary is approximately four hundred. Beautiful stained glass, arched windows were installed at center back of choir loft that raised upward with rope and weight. Two choir rooms were built one on each side of loft. Arched stained glass windows were installed in sanctuary, the top set in, and lower stained glass windows pushed out, also two long rectangular windows as are shown in picture. Two small dark oak doors were installed leading into each side of vestibule. Three isles lead from front doors to alter. The altar is of fir wood finished to look like oak. There are three levels (circles)--kneeling and sacrificial fast table carved in light oak, baptismal font, ministerial rostrum, and then the choir loft. Steps up each side are oak and posts are all of so1id oak. Walls have oak finished fir wainscoting; upper walls painted white. The pulpit stand is beautifully carved and is of oak as well as accompanying chairs.

In 1919 the church faced a financial crisis. The note on the church was being carried by the Dunaway Brothers of Waxahachie. They chose to dissolve their financial business and wanted the church to clear up the note. T J. Frierson and Maury Munchus, both trustees, made offers to take up the note. The trustees chose the Munches offer. The note was sold to him.4 The church paid him monthly. After his death his wife continued to carry the note until it was paid.