A historic North Texas church is inching closer to opening its doors for services again following a years-long pause.
The 140-year-old White Rock Chapel, designated a historic site by the Texas Historical Commission, has sat unused for several years. As reported in The Dallas Express, the church was founded by former slaves in 1884. The building has been reconstructed numerous times after floods, storms, and a fire damaged the edifice.
After the church building fell out of use, Dr. Donald Wesson and his family purchased the historic property in 2018 to save it from being demolished. Since then, they have attempted to restore the building so that it can be used for church services again but have faced numerous hurdles.
Located in the southeast corner of Addison, on Celestial Road, near the intersection of the Dallas North Tollway and Belt Line Road, the church now sits in a developed neighborhood. Some residents and city officials have fought to keep the church from reopening, citing concerns about traffic, noise pollution, safety, and drops in property values.
Despite the opposition, the Addison town council granted approval in December for the property to once again operate as a church. Wesson told CBS News Texas that he and his family are “excited about what’s going to happen going forward.”
“In 1865, at the end of slavery in Texas, five formerly enslaved families decided that they were going to work together to earn money to buy land for a church,” Wesson said of the church’s history.
After nearly two decades, the funds to build the church were secured. The now-freed slaves had to return to the man who had formerly enslaved them, asking to buy the land where the new building would be constructed.
Not only did the white plantation owner agree to the sale, but “he helped them build the church,” said Wesson. His family would also go on to worship in the chapel, shoulder to shoulder with the formerly enslaved founders.
“We can’t think of a better American story for reconciliation, and so that was the motivation for us to step in and buy the property to prevent it from being destroyed,” Wesson said, per CBS.
Now, plans are moving forward to continue the legacy begun more than 150 years ago.
While the city has approved the project, the Wessons are still awaiting permits needed to continue repairs inside the chapel, pave the parking lot, and construct an outdoor pavilion.