Wesley Chapel A.M.E Church
Why it's listed
Wesley Chapel A.M.E. Church is a wood-frame church at 508 W. 4th Street in Georgetown, Texas, dated to 1904. It has a modified Greek cross plan, beveled wood siding, a cross-gable roof and a two-story entry tower at the southwest corner. The tower has a pyramidal roof with wood shingles and imbricated shingle siding on its upper level. Pointed-arch windows and a double-door entrance with a pointed-arch transom provide the Gothic Revival details. A small addition stands at the southeast corner, and a dining hall was added to the east in 1968. The congregation was founded in 1869 and has owned the land since 1881. The building is believed to have been built by church members. It is one of very few structures in Georgetown's historic black neighborhoods that predate 1935, and it is described as extremely important to the black community. It was recognized for its architecture and its ethnic history.
Significance in brief: The inventory form cites architecture and ethnic history as the primary areas of significance. The congregation was founded in 1869 and has owned the site since 1881. The church is one of very few pre-1935 structures left in Georgetown's historic black neighborhoods, is extremely important to the black community, and is a good example of Gothic Revival architecture.
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 86000204, listed January 14, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 508 W. Fourth, Georgetown |
|---|---|
| County | Williamson County |
| Listed | January 14, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000204 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Believed to have been built by members of the congregation; no architect named |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival details |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as fair with minor additions; still used as a church, with a dining hall built in 1968 to the east. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.64015, -97.68169 (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 86000204.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7983875
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.