Tyree Chapel
African Methodist Episcopal Church

Founded 1894

 



 


1947
 

 


Picture taken 2015
 

 
 

History of Tyree African Methodist Episcopal Church
1992
 


Mosella & Augustus Hardeman
 



In the year 1894, Mrs. Jane Lewis, a community spiritual leader, saw the need for an African Methodist Episcopal Church in our then small community. And as a result of her keen vision, this conscientious woman made known her desire throughout the community. She found that there were two other persons, the Rev. Booker McQuirter and Augustus Hardeman, Sr,, who also had seen the need and wanted to work toward its fulfillment. These three set about soliciting funds from their generous and well wishing white friends. The Reverend McQuirter and Augustus Hardeman both were carpenters, and as funds sufficient to purchase land and lumber were received, the community project was begun. In the year 1901 a building for worship though humble was completed. Mrs. Jane Lewis named the church Tyree Chapel A. M. E. Church in honor of the Bishop Evan Tyree, the 26th Bishop of the A. M. E. church. The Reverend Tyree had been elected in 1900 and served as an active Bishop for 21 years. Until the establishment of the church in 1901, Rev. McQuirter gave spiritual guidance to the Black community.

In the year 1901, the Reverend Mitchell was sent as the first pastor of Tyree Chapel and labored in the vineyard until 1905 when the Reverend Motley took the reins and lead until the Reverend Hickey came in 1907. From 1906 to 1908, the church grew, and many of those who joined and worked diligently during these times have descendents who are yet holding high the bloodstained banner. Some of these old warriors were John and Luella Duncan, Thomas and Amanda Allen, Georgen and Mary Robinson, Augustus and Mosella Hardelam, Henry and Fannie Cooper, Georgia Edison, Alonia Bouldin, Mary Johnson, Mamie Richardson, William and Pearl Robison, Lillie Green and Annie Austin. It may be noted that at this time Mrs. Parris Smith, wife of one of Bay City's first pharmacists gave of her time to come and teach the missionary lessons. The two missionaries who made up the class were Jane Lewis and Mosella Hardeman who has a descendent in the church today.

A storm demolish the church in 1909. It was rebuilt in 1910 under the pastorage of the Rev. I. D. Coffee. The Reverend C. W. McCowan following the Reverend in the fall of 1913.

 

1913 -

Presiding Elder Bryant

1913 - 1915

The Reverend C. W. McCowan

1915 - 1917

The Reverend L. L. Reece

1917 - 1918

The Reverend J. W. McDade

 1918- 1919

The Reverend O. B. Marshall

1919

Presiding Elder Pendergraff

 1919 - 1922

The Reverend Whitmire - Under whose leadership the church that housed the congregation for many years was built.

1922 - 1924

The Reverend E. D. Cooper

1924

Presiding Elder J. W. McDade

1924 - 1927

The Reverend C. J. Alexander

1927

Presiding Elder Boyd

1927 - 1928

The Reverend S. W. Whitehead

1931

After the death of Mrs. Jane Lewis, Augustus Hardeman, Sr. bought, planted and dedicated to this great lady the Pecan Tree that grows in the front yard of our church.

1932

The Reverend L. Beasley - Because of illness, the Reverend Beasley was unable to complete a year's work.
The  Reverend L. C. Wase was sent to replace the Reverend Beasley.

1933 - 1937

The Reverend S. J. Matthews

1937 - 1943

The Reverend W. E. Thomas - Under whose pastorage the first parsonage was built.

1943

Presiding Elder E. D. Cooper

1943 - 1945

The Reverend J. J. Hardeman - Who initiated our building fund program.

1945

Presiding Elder Alexander

1945 - 1949

The Reverend J. E. Valentine - Who with the cooperation of the membership, remodeled and bricked the church.

1949

Presiding Elder Johnson

 1949- 1950

The Reverend L. S. Godley

1950

Presiding Elder L. C. Graves

1950 - 1952

The Reverend L. Cornelius

1952

Presiding Elder W. E. Thomas

1952 - 1953

The Reverend A. A. Coates

1953  - 1954

The Reverend T. S. Singleton

1954

Presiding Elder A. A. Coates

1954

Augustus Hardeman, Sr. Died

1954  - 1960

The Reverend T. R. Hartwell - Under whose leadership the church cafeteria was remodeled and sidewalks were laid.

1960

Presiding Elder T. A. Steadham

1960  - 1963

The Reverend B. T. Langham - Under whose leadership the Gospel Choir was organized.

1963 - 1965

Presiding Elder T. A. Steadham and T. R. Hartwell

1963 - 1965

The Reverend V. L. Bell

1965

Presiding Elder H. L. Boyd

1965  - 1977

The Reverend G. Turner - under whose leadership the new brick church and parsonage was built and furnished.

1973

Presiding Elder Dawson

1977  - 1979

The Reverend I. B. Wells - Under his leadership the church mortgage was burned. He also organize the M. A. Hardeman Society in honor of the Mother of our church.

1977

Presiding Elder J. H. Phillips, Jr.

1979 - 1980

The Reverend D. Edwards - Under whose leadership the double glass doors at the sanctuary entrance were installed. Returning from the Northwest Texas Annual Conference Reverend Edwards was killed as the result of an automobile accident.

1980 - 1982

The Reverend L. K. Williams, Sr. - Under whose leadership the sanctuary was roofed and the outside bulletin board restored.

1982 -

The Reverend R. W. Brown

1985

The oldest member of Tyree Chapel and the only living charter member was Mrs. Mosella W. Hardeman who died June 16, 1985.

1986

Presiding Elder J. H. Phillips, Jr. died. Presiding Elder F. D. McDonald was appointed. Residing Elder of the Bay City District on December 11, 1986

.1988

Stewardess Board No. 1 under the presidency of Juanita Hardeman Allen, compiled the Tyree Chapel Cookbook, the first for our community.

1990

Residing Elder F. D. McDonald died in September. Also The Reverend J. H. Phillips, III was appointed Associate Presiding Elder of the Bay City District and subsequently became the Presiding Elder of the Bay City District.
 



Rev. Theodore Roosevelt Hartwell Inside 1947 Building
 


Reverend Roy W. & Raydell Brown
 

The Church is now 98 years old approaching its 100 Anniversary, a century of service to this community. With all praise to God for seeing us through we can say, what troubles we have seen, what conflict we have passed, and what losses we have incurred since the little congregation first met in this place on such an occasion as we meet today. We have had the blessings of welcoming 31 pastors through our doors including the present one. We have worshiped and conducted business with 18 Residing Elders, including our present Reverend J. H. Phillips, III. our Bishops have been fewer in number, 17, including the president reassigned Bishop The Rt. Reverend John R. Bryant.
 

Photos courtesy of Roxie O'Neal
 


 


Tyree Chapel A. M. E. Church Destroyed by Fire
Friday, June 13, 2025
 


Undetermined Fire Destroyed
Tyree A. M. E. Church

 

Photos by
Dan Shook


Fire of undetermined cause destroyed the Tyree AME Church, 2617 Ave B, Friday, June 13, Fire Marshal Dan Shook said.

The Bay City Volunteer Fire Department, the Bay City Police Department, the Bay City Police Department, and Shook were sent to the fire at about 12:13 a. m. Friday, after a passing motorist noticed flames coming from the roof of the church and called 9-1-1, Shook said.

The first arriving police officers identified fire coming from the attic space at the front of the church.

The fire department arrived and quickly worked to stop the fire’s spread.

The fire was too advanced, however, and the church building was a complete loss, the fire marshal said.

Firefighters were able to protect the adjacent church parsonage.

Fire crews worked for over an hour before the building was brought under control.

The firefighters remained on the scene for another four hours to extinguish hot spots, Shook said.

The fire damage is estimated to be about $800,000.

One firefighter was evaluated by EMS for possible heat-related illness, but was released without transport to the hospital.

No one else was injured during the incident.

The fire marshal conducted a preliminary investigation into the fire and said the cause of the fire is undetermined, and the investigation is ongoing.

Bay City Sentinel, June 19, 2025
 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Photos courtesy of Jerrilyn Capers
 

 

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All rights reserved
   

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