Our History

In writing the history of Shiloh, we have relied on oral statements of older members and court records until the year 1917. All former records were destroyed by either storms or fire. For this reason, the exact beginning of the church is not known. A search of the court records, however, verifies the fact that the church property was bought in 1870, when former Galvestonian Henry H. Browser sold the property to Shiloh African Methodist Church. The purchase was made through Browsers agent, Nabor B. Yard. Acting for the church were trustees Peter Burns, William Davis, and Soloman Reily. The churchmen of 1870 represented a hopeful ethnic group. With faith in God and with modest funds, Shiloh members paid off $500.00 in debt on their property by 1877. An 1894 hurricane demolished the house that was considered the original church. Led by the Rev. Warren, members erected a small new frame building. However, in the visitation of the great Galveston Storm of 1900, this was destroyed. Again members struggled and under the Rev. D. Reese, built another sanctuary, which served until razed by fire in 1922. The present structure was erected in 1923 at a cost of $36,000.00. It is still located at the original site, the corner of 29th Street and Avenue M, now know as Martin Luther King Blvd. and Avenue M. We are fortunate to have had members of the early church who were appreciators or art as evidence by the beautiful stained glass windows which edify our sanctuary. There are twenty-four very impressive windows in the sanctuary, the beauty of which are magnified each time the sun rises to illuminate the glorious artistry embodied in each one. Perhaps the most important windows are those in the entrancetwo rectangular windows above the main doors with the word WELCOME on each side. We shall never know the countless number of persons who had no home, who knew none in the city, gut found great satisfaction in knowing that they were indeed invited in to experience with the members the warm love and friendship of Shilohand above all the peace and harmony which can be found through Christ our Saviour. Windows in the sanctuary carry the names of more than 60 representatives of Shiloh who purchased them in the name of the Lord. A historical marker, dedicated by the Galveston County Historical Survey Committee on September 18, 1971, officially proclaimed Shiloh one of the oldest churches in Galveston. Records reveal 30 ministers have been assigned to the congregation. All have been dedicated men of God, each contributing to the growth and improvement of the church. Twenty or more ministers have begun their ministry from Shiloh. We are proud of our grand and wonderful past, but we must look to the future just as our forefathers did. We must have that same kind of faith that God is with us and that He has a glorious and wonderful future for Shiloh African Methodist Episcopal Church remembering Motto: God our Father, Christ our Redeemer and Man our Brother.

The Shiloh Church

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