Mount Vernon A.M.E. Church

Feb 6

Organized by formerly enslaved men and women in 1873, Mount Vernon A.M.E. Church is among the oldest congregations of its kind in Texas. This Gothic Revival-style church was built in 1921 to replace a wood frame church that was built on the site in 1885, and has since served as an important landmark in Palestine. The church has been designated as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A structural assessment in 2014 revealed that the building was on the verge of collapse due to a weakened foundation and failed wood truss roof system, and the building has been closed ever since. Emergency temporary measures have been taken to support the roof until funding can be found to resolve the structural issues.

This project has been awarded a $75,000 grant through Preservation Texas’s Rural African-American Heritage Grants Program. This funding will enable the sanctuary foundation and load bearing walls to be stabilized in preparation for a new roof system. This will require partial removal of original brick on the walls, careful removal of the stained glass windows, and protection of exposed walls and window openings until funding can be found to rebuild the roof system and reinstall the original material.

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"Mount Vernon A.M.E. Church is a treasure that has stood proudly for many years as a leader in this community representing African-American heritage and culture. We’ve come this far by faith, standing on the cross pieces of our legacy.”

- Tabitha Enge, Church Member and Project Liaison