Greater Ward African Methodist Episcopal Church was born in February 1913 in a community north of downtown Houston. Greater Ward is named after Bishop Thomas M.D. Ward, the tenth bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, who founded the first A.M.E. church in Colorado. The first place of worship for Ward Chapel, as it was originally called, was the home of the late Rev. John T. and Mrs. Cassie Williams. The pastor and members worked together diligently until they were able to build their first edifice. That edifice was destroyed by fire in 1934 during the pastorate of the Rev. J.T. Flood.

     The Wright Land Company later gave two lots to Ward Chapel Church: these lots were located on Sherman Street across from Galilee Baptist Church. Ward Chapel's membership voted to exchange their two lots with Mr. and Mrs. Ware, thereby choosing another site for the church. This choice was made because the streets were not developed at that time. Ward Chapel was one of the first major churches in The Acres Homes Community along with Galilee Baptist.

     Somehow, the church through error, was erected on the wrong lots. But after 35 years at this location, an affidavit was drawn up and presented to the church which deeded the property to Ward Chapel. The location of said lots are Arabella Street and Granville Drive, Houston 77091. Ward Chapel was part of a circuit in its early days. The other two churches on that circuit were Green Chapel and Jones Chapel.

Charter Members were:

• Rev. Morgan and Mrs. Fannie Houston
• Mrs. Mattie Houston Patterson
• Mr. Willie Blount
• Rev. John T. Williams
• Mrs. Cassie Williams
• Mr. and Mrs. Wylie Adams
• Mr. Willie and Mrs. Annie Daniels
• Mrs. Mary Steward

     Reverends C.L. Boyd, B.W. Wiseman and C.J. Alexander were instrumental in the construction of the parsonage and enlarging the sanctuary. Reverends A.T. Harris and X.L. Williams began the first financial drive for the construction of a new sanctuary. Rev. O.L. Dawson actually led the membership in the construction of the new sanctuary, where we worship today. We entered the new sanctuary January 27th, 1957 with Bishop H. Thomas Primm conducting the service. In 1962, the church purchased another lot for a new parsonage under the leadership of Rev. O.L. Dawson. The old parsonage was torn down in July 1963 and the old sanctuary was sold to what is now Mount Calvary A.M.E. Church in 1964. During this time, a new parsonage and fellowship hall were built. In October of 1964, Bishop O.L. Sherman conducted the dedication service for the new fellowship hall and parsonage. In 1979 under the leadership of Rev. L.E. Reid the mortgage for the new sanctuary was liquidated and the mortgage for the fellowship hall and parsonage was liquidated in 1984 under the leadership of Rev. A.V. Hawkins.

Ward Chapel has been served by many great pastors like:

• A.T. Harris, T.L. Singleton, X.L. Williams and O.L. Dawson (November 1952 - April 1972)
• I.C. Gordon (May 1972 - October 1982)
• L.E. Reid (November 1972 - October 1975)
• S.E. Braziel, Sr. (October 1978 - October 1982)
• A.V. Hawkins (October 1982 - November 1989)
• W.L. Brown (November 1990 - November 1991)
• M.C. Cooper (November 1991 - November 1993)
• Bennie Wilson (November 1993 - November 1999)
• James McLaughlin (November 1999 - November 2003)
• Richard Tankerson (November 2003 - November 2006)
• Eddie L. Everline, Jr. (November 2006 - May 2011)
• David Israel Madison (June 2011 - PRESENT)

     Under the leadership of Rev. Gordon, the parsonage was renovated and also the sanctuary vestibule, new draperies were purchased and installed in the church and new carpet was laid in the sanctuary. Under the direction of Rev. Reid, a private phone line was installed in the parsonage, drainage for the church lot was improved and air and heating system was upgraded to central air. A new church sign was also purchased and a new ceiling for the sanctuary was put in place. Rev. Hawkins led the church in installing aluminum columns on the front of the church, a new roof and stained glass windows in the sanctuary. He also replaced the chandeliers, and purchased and installed larger air conditioning units for the church.

     Under the leadership of Rev. W.L. Brown, the church purchased a new van, and a new floor for the fellowship hall was installed. While under the leadership of Rev. E.L. Everline, Jr., the church purchased and installed a new marquee, renovated the men's room in the sanctuary,  installed new carpet and purchased two lots adjacent to the church property.

The following ministers are a product of Greater Ward A.M.E. Church. They are Reverends:

• Dr. Floyd Harold Flake
• Alfred James Baker, Jr.
• William Anderson
• Joan Cooper
• Debbie Waddell Ward
• Sandra Flake Dever
• Claude Lewis, Jr.

and the late Reverends:

• Green Heard
• Steve Morrison
• Marvin Dawson and Dave Ward, Sr.

     In the 5th Session of The Texas Annual Conference (November 2007), Presiding Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram granted a resolution to rename the church to Greater Ward A.M.E. Church

     After the resignation of Rev. Eddie L. Everline in July 2011, Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram appointed Rev. David Israel Madison as the pastor of Greater Ward A.M.E. Church.  Under the leadership of Rev. Madison, Greater Ward is indeed Moving ForWard!