Short History of Wesley Chapel AMEC
Wesley Chapel African Methodist Church was founded in 1941 with four members, Sam and Ella Goode, Ruth Hawkins and Lucille Marshall. The Rev. M. l. Malone was the first Pastor and the Rev. S. D. Cooper the Presiding Elder. The church meeting was held in the home of Lucille Marshall on 6th Street of the East End of Freeport. Wesley's first assembly was held in the Freeport Colored School. The church later moved upstairs in the home owned by Mr. Willie "Heck" Williams.
On October 4, 1943 land located at 503 East 8th Street was purchased for $175. In 1948 the first "church" building was erected at the corner of 8th and Spruce Street in Freeport, Texas. With the increase of membership, a second building was erected in 1954. As was the custom, the original building was repurposed as the "fellowship hall" with a parsonage attached later. The newly erected building in 1954 had "stained glass" windows. After thirty-six years population changed again.
In 1990 a new church was erected in Clute, Texas on restricted property, located on the corner of Godfrey and Lazy Lane, donated by Mr. Henry and Mrs. Erma Jones. Remnants of the stained glass from Freeport now adorn the entry of Wesley Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, at 730 Lazy Lane, Clute, Texas. In 2024 Bishop Ronnie Elijah Brailsford appointed Rev Peter L Phillips as pastor Wesley Chapel.