Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church and Plum Creek Community

 Recorded in the History of Freestone County, Texas, Volume I (First Edition 1978) circa 1887 in a little settlement called Plum Creek, a small band of black Christian pioneers erected a log church on John Rothchild's land.  Later, a second log church was built on John L. Johnson, II's land.  Yet another  church was built in 1903 on this site due to dilapidation.  The pioneer families were: Brown, Cunningham, Epps, Huckaby, Jones and Solomon.  These families were dedicated to carrying out the tenets of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Approximately, forty years later, in 1927, Gabriel Brown's widow, Ann Jones Brown (pictured above), gave the site where the present church sits.  This was due to hazardous roads and inconvenient ways of travel.  On this site, a frame church was built and named Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in honor of the renderer of the land.  At that time the pastor was Rev. A.G. Glass along with dedicated families: Allen, Bryant, Hayes, David, Dobbins, Gammage, Green, Hardy, Henley, Jordan, Lenard, Livingston, Luckett, Norsingle, Porter, Scott, Smith, Turner and Waldon.  The church was completed and dedicated under the leadership of Rev. F.W. Fowler in 1928 with Simon Andrews as contractor.

Some thirty years later, in 1958, the church was rebuilt using master carpenter Kenchion Jones, Sr. and under the leadership of Rev. L.D. Lincoln.  In 1970, the present church was remodeled annexing a fellowhsip hall and restrooms under the Pastorate of Rev. L.J. Malone. The additional families instrumental in remodeling were: Johnson, Manning and Wheat.

In 1982, under the leadership of Rev. Nathaniel Gamble, the church installed stain glass windows, ceiling fans and upholstered pulpit furniture.

In 1983, under the leadership of Rev. Jerome T. Mayberry, the church was updated with a vestibule and air units.  Kenchion Jones, Sr. was again, called in as master carpenter.

In 1984, under the capable leadership of Rev. Willie K. McDonald, the church purchased a new piano, new pews and central air was installed.  Members vowed to continue to make strides even through their numbers had lessened.  The spirit of the faithful few accepted the challenge.

Between the years of 1990-2005, the members, along with Rev. Bernard L. Smith, extended the fellowship hall, added awnings, paved parking lot, installed lighted announcement board/sign and in the final stages of that renovation, the church was enlarged and bricked.

From 2006 through 2009, the fellowship hall was further enlarged and dining furniture was added, a sound system was installed, restrooms were enlarged and remodeled and the sanctuary was refurbished.  During these nineteen some odd years, the church was lead by Pastors, Hylani K. Chan, Jessie L. Turner, Sr. and the present pastor, James Joey Baggett.

Our church has thrived under varied dynamic leaders, renowned bishops, presiding elders, pastors, devoted officials and laymen who have sacrificially contributed to the success by which the church progressed.

Brown Chapel was erected as a special place of reverent worship, spiritual aspiration and human sympathy.  We believe in the study of the whole Bible and accept it as the authoritative Word of God.  We are dedicated to the worship of God, Fellowship of Believers, Equality of the Human Race, The Spiritual Nurture of each Christian, active Mission of Evangelism.

In the future, we pray that its leaders and officials will maintain this same spirit.

(Note:  Due to the lack of recorded history, this information was received through interviews by doris M. Jones, with Arsby Cunningham, Edgar Manning and elders citizens of the Plum Creek community )
Below is a drawing of what Brown Chapel might have looks like in the late 1800s.

The next few photos are of Brown Chapel in its various building and renovation stages.

Brown Chapel Cemetery  has also gone through a change.

A new sign, gate and headstone work was done in 2009.

Exhumed and placed Dallas DFW Cemetery

No Markers

Gladys McQuin

Missouri Hunt Brown

"Bud" Brown
J.W. Willis and Wife

Lena Brown Willis
Delbert "Doc" Brown
William Brown
Cora Brown
Theodore Brown
Johnnie "Rod" Willis and Wife, Allie