History Taskforce

Thomas Chapel United Methodist Church is the oldest continuous use building and the only state landmark building in Montgomery County, Texas.

Built in 1899 by the descendants of slaves from the nearby Greenwood Plantation, this church has served as a former school, a civil rights meeting place, and an anchor of the black community for 124 years and across five generations in Willis, Texas. Its congregation, originally utilizing a log building, dates back even further, and has served as the cultural center for black heritage in the area since before the city of Willis was established.

After its last repair 25 years ago, the roof of the church is in desperate need of repair. Over the last several years, this leaky roof has led to significant water damage inside the church sanctuary. Water damage has also caused the historic facade on the front of the building to rot, but before we restore the facade, we must repair the roof to stop further damage.

Repairing the roof is a laborious and dangerous process, and involves the removal and replacement of over 20,000 fasteners by hand. Along with these repairs, the flashing between the roof and bell tower must be replaced.

So far, we have received $4,000 in donations, with the goal of $15,000 to cover the cost of the labor and materials needed. This restoration is being coordinated by History Taskforce, a Paypal Giving Fund verified non-profit, and every penny of your donation, outside of GoFundMe's fees, will go toward helping restore this important piece of African American and Texas history.