Reedy Chapel-AME Church
Also known as: Reedy Chapel
Why it's listed
Reedy Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church is a stuccoed brick church at 2013 Broadway in Galveston, built in 1886 in a restrained Gothic Revival style. Its features include a corner bell tower with a pyramidal roof, heavy square piers along the side walls, lancet windows with stained glass, and an open timber-truss ceiling. Inside is an 1872 organ made by E. & G.G. Hook of Boston, originally installed in Trinity Episcopal Church in Galveston and bought by the congregation in 1912. The site was acquired in 1848 by white trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church as a meeting place for Black members. A frame church stood by 1863 and burned in 1885. The brick church replaced it and was named for the first pastor, Houston Reedy. The congregation is the oldest African Methodist Episcopal congregation in Texas and counted prominent Black Galvestonians among its members. The building was repaired after the 1900 and 1915 hurricanes and still serves its congregation.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as deeply rooted in Galveston's Black community and the home of the oldest African Methodist Episcopal congregation in Texas. It is the second church on a site acquired in 1848 for Black Methodists, and it survived the 1900 hurricane. It is also noted for its restrained Gothic Revival design and an 1872 Hook pipe organ.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 84001717, listed September 14, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2013 Broadway, Galveston |
|---|---|
| County | Galveston County |
| Listed | September 14, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001717 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use on its original site by a congregation of over 350 members; condition described as good with the integrity of the structure mainly intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.30038, -94.78888 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 84001717.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7306766
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.