HOUSTON- Greater Ward African Methodist Episcopal Church was born in February 1913 in a community north of downtown Houston. Greater Ward is named after Bishop Thomas M.D. Ward, the tenth bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, who founded the first A.M.E. church in Colorado. The first place of worship for Ward Chapel, as it was originally called, was the home of the late Rev. John T. and Mrs. Cassie Williams. The pastor and members worked together diligently until they were able to build their first edifice. That edifice was destroyed by fire in 1934 during the pastorate of the Rev. J.T. Flood.
The Wright Land Company later gave two lots to Ward Chapel Church: these lots were located on Sherman Street across from Galilee Baptist Church. Ward Chapel’s membership voted to exchange their two lots with Mr. and Mrs. Ware, thereby choosing another site for the church.
This choice was made because the streets were not developed at that time. Ward Chapel was one of the first major churches in The Acres Homes Community along with Galilee Baptist.
Somehow, the church through error, was erected on the wrong lots. But after 35 years at this location, an affidavit was drawn up and presented to the church which deeded the property to Ward Chapel.
The location of said lots are Arabella Street and Granville Drive, Houston 77091. Ward Chapel was part of a circuit in its early days. The other two churches on that circuit were Green Chapel and Jones Chapel.
The following ministers are a product of Greater Ward A.M.E. Church. They are Reverends: Dr. Floyd Harold Flake, Alfred James Baker, Jr., William Anderson, Joan Cooper, Debbie Waddell Ward, Sandra Flake Dever, Claude Lewis, Jr. and the late Reverends: Green Heard, Steve Morrison, Marvin Dawson and Dave Ward, Sr.
In the 5th Session of The Texas Annual Conference (November 2007), Presiding Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram granted a resolution to rename the church to Greater Ward A.M.E. Church
After the resignation of Rev. Eddie L. Everline in July 2011, Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram appointed Rev. David Israel Madison as the pastor of Greater Ward A.M.E. Church.
The 100th Anniversary Celebration for Greater Ward will be held Sunday, February 17th at 3:30pm. Guest speaker will be Rev. Floyd H. Flake, senior pastor of Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral, Jamaica Queens, N.Y., native of the Acres Home Community and former member of Greater Ward A.M.E. Church.
For information, please contact Mrs. Cora T. Dawson at 713-686-5290 or email Rev. Debbie Ward at dcward2@aol.com.
