Mount Vernon A.M.E. Church

PALESTINE (ANDERSON COUNTY)

Organized in 1873 by formerly enslaved men and women, Mount Vernon A.M.E. Church is one of the oldest congregations of its kind in Texas. The current Gothic Revival-style sanctuary was constructed in 1921, replacing a wood-frame church built on the site in 1885. For over a century, the church has stood as a significant spiritual and cultural landmark in Palestine. It is recognized as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A 2014 structural assessment revealed severe deterioration, including a failing foundation and compromised wood truss roof system, leaving the building at risk of collapse. The church has remained closed since then, with temporary emergency supports installed to prevent further damage while funding is sought for a long-term solution.

In 2022, Mount Vernon A.M.E. Church received a $75,000 grant from Preservation Texas’s Rural African American Heritage Grants Program. This funding supported the stabilization of the sanctuary’s foundation and load-bearing walls in preparation for a new roof system. The next phase of work will involve the careful removal of sections of original brick, temporary removal and protection of stained glass windows, and shielding of exposed walls and openings—critical steps toward the eventual restoration of the roof and reinstallation of original materials.

The 1921 Mount Vernon A.M.E. Church.

Temporary supports hold up the roof of the Mount Vernon A.M.E. Church building.

Congregants attending worship service at Mount Vernon A.M.E. Church circa 1950.

Project supporters gather at Mount Vernon A.M.E. Church for a community picnic in celebration of National Historic Preservation Month in May 2023.

Project Liaison Tabitha Enge and Project Architect Mark Thacker at Mount Vernon A.M.E. Church.