Allred Chapel Project

The inmates at the James V. Allred Unit are looking forward to the construction of a new Chapel. They will finally have an air-conditioned building designated for rehabilitative classes and religious services, where men whose lives have been defined by failure can learn the skills that will redefine them. 

At other prisons, the chapel inevitably becomes the lighthouse drawing everyone optimistic and hopeful, a place people come to when they finally quite fighting the system and resolve to seek personal change. The new chapel will feature class rooms and a large sanctuary where they can attend church services, faith-based classes, life-skills classes, addiction and recovery programs- from AA/NA, to re-entry skills development, Bibles studies, cognitive thinking classes, conflict resolution classes, and really the possibilities are endless because they’ll have the classroom space to innovate and design curricula to meet the needs of the inmates. They can even have special programs where men can spend time with their families, what we call marriage seminars or day with dads, or family days.

These programs and the facility are open and used by all faith groups. The new space will increase the program participation from 10% of the unit’s population to 25% or even, we hope, higher. Currently they use one classroom with a 40-man capacity for a 3700-man unit, obviously a bottle-neck that prevents wide participation. They have church services in a non-airconditioned gym that seat 150, and many services men are turned away because of limited seating, not to mention the challenge presented by the Texas heat. The chaplains, volunteers, inmate ministers and peer coaches have little office space to work or to plan develop programs. 

The Allred unit needs this additional space, but because of the state’s restrictive spending guidelines, the department of criminal justice will not pay for constructing a chapel. They will, however, allow private groups to fund and construct a new chapel.

In January 2020 volunteers began working on the Allred Chapel Project to raise the needed one million dollars. As of August 8,2024. we have raised over $861,815.58 This puts us over the 80% the agency requires to start construction. One hundred percent of the money raised will go towards building the Allred Chapel, as none of the volunteers receive a salary and their administrative cost come out of their own pockets.

We need you to help the Allred Chapel Project to cross the finish line.

For many years the Allred Unit has stood on the edge of Wichita Falls. With your help, this familiar landmark would always bear witness that you have helped to reclaimed a dark and hopeless place and has given it new meaning to this community. Wherever the inmates go from here, they will be better prepared to return to their communities because your gracious investment.   

If you change their hearts, you change their futures, and you change the futures of their families, kids, and their communities.