Chase designed the Midcentury Modern Boynton Chapel during the early years of his private architecture firm, just five years after writing his graduate thesis on building churches for African American communities. The construction of Boynton Chapel continued a long history of achievement at this historic Black church, founded by formerly enslaved people in 1880 and located in one of Texas’ oldest African American communities.

The church, which representatives hail as a “beacon of hope and service to Houston’s Black community throughout the nation’s history of racial and social challenges,” now welcomes 270 people to worship each week and conducts substantial community outreach. Governed by a commitment to congregational growth and social justice, Boynton Chapel supports many neighbors in need on a regular basis and in times of crisis. The church serves as a COVID-19 testing and vaccine site, offers a free dental clinic three times a year, distributes food and clothing, and advocates for affordable housing. Following Hurricane Harvey in 2015, recognizing the need in their community, the congregation became a designated distribution site for water and supplies through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

A National Fund grant of $90,000, plus $90,000 in matching funds raised by the congregation, will support a multi-pronged project which includes HVAC upgrades, bell tower repairs, and drainage system improvements. The congregation hopes this work will facilitate ongoing investment in the future of this “cherished house of worship in order to position Boynton for this generation of ministry and beyond.”

Boynton Chapel Methodist Church courtesy Boynton Chapel