Banneker School: Washington Chapel CME Church TO HOST ITS FIRST SERVICE

Washington Chapel CME Church; Parkville, MO. 

TO HOST ITS FIRST SERVICE

Washington Chapel CME Church will host its first service on June 27, 2026, at 1:00. Rev. Nicky Wright will give the Word. All those who have volunteered or donated financially are asked to be present, as well as others in the community who would like to attend. Please car-pool, park on the street, or at Watkins Park is located at 10th and West St. as parking in the church yard is limited to those with physical challenges.

It has been two and half years since a small group of elderly members and community volunteers began working to restore Washington Chapel in Parkville, MO. for religious and community use. Although the interior of the building is almost complete, the Restoration Committee is now raising money to install Internet and Zoom capabilities, install security so that the building can be safely opened for religious and community use, and repair the external stairs.

The church was built in 1907 by formerly enslaved people and their families. It has served for 119 years as a beacon of hope for the African American community in the once segregated part of town. Many in Parkville remember the annual Thanksgiving Dinners and Black History Month events held at the Church. These have now been reinstated and were well-attended this past year.

Thanks to a combination of grants, volunteers, and donations, the roof of Washington Chapel has been replaced and the building completely remodel to include a large social room, a classroom (complete with wall monitor and small kitchen), new HVAC system, first floor ceiling, first floor flooring, all new electrical and plumping, ADA accessible bathrooms on both floors, a chair lift on the stairs, a first floor kitchen, and a pastoral office. Much of this work was the vision and design of volunteer, Mike Scarborough, and a group of volunteers, “the Thursday Crew,” retired from the trades. The interior has been completely repainted thanks to volunteer, Mindy Andrasevits.

Follow the progress on Facebook: Washington Chapel Restoration. All photos posted there are available for use in newsletters and other forms of publicity.

Questions or to invite us to speak to religious or community groups, contact Barb Luetke bluetke@ymail.com. Rev. Nicky Wright and three church members who grew up in the church and currently serve on the Restoration Committee are available for interviews.