Chapel celebrates 140 years in Round Rock

As Rev. Michael Oyedokun II walks into the main sanctuary of Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church on Chisholm Trail Road in Round Rock, he points out the air conditioning unit, carpeted floors and various musical instruments placed on the stage.

Although the room is typical for a sanctuary, Oyedokun notes these parts to show how far Round Rock's oldest African-American church has come since it started in 1874 with 10 people worshipping in a small house.

"To know the history, it's a testament to how the church has been able to grow and sustain during the Depression and all the history of the country as a whole," he said. "How the church has survived over all those years is a testament to God."

Good Hope celebrated that history with its 140-year anniversary service Oct. 26.

As a member of the Good Hope congregation for 50 years, Cassandra Edwards still remembers mid-20th century services without air conditioning or musical instruments during which the congregation would stomp their feet and clap their hands in worship. She also recalls Sunday dinners when churchgoers and their guests would enjoy a big spread on the campus.

"It's always been a spirit-filled church," she said. "It was always about family and treating people right."

Although Rev. Jacob Fontaine started Good Hope in a small house, Oyedokun said the church quickly grew. The church added two rooms to the original house, built a new building on the same property and added a school.

In 1973 the church burned down because of an unknown cause. The congregation met in Berkman Elementary School until construction finished on the replacement church in 1975.

"When you look back over the 140 years and how one church stays in one spot and continues to thrive and maintain, it's a testament," Oyedokun said.

Oyedokun has been the Good Hope pastor since 2008. He said he hopes to grow the church to include a food and clothes pantry and resource center. He said he has also focused on incorporating technology in the church, such as live streaming services on YouTube and offering apps on multiple platforms.

"People used to drive to Austin to find quality churches," he said. "We are now trying to make sure they can have those quality churches right here in Round Rock."

207 Chisholm Trail Road, Round Rock, 512-255-2980, www.ghmbc.com