TDCJ News

Allred Unit Breaks Ground on New Chapel

July 14, 2026

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) broke ground on the James V. Allred Chapel on Wednesday, July 8, the third of 10 worship and reflection spaces planned as part of the agency’s 2030 Vision.

The chapel will be located inside the James V. Allred Unit at 2101 FM 369 N. in Iowa Park. It is designed to serve as a dedicated space for spiritual support, personal reflection and community connection for inmates and TDCJ employees across the region.

Leaders, volunteers and community partners gathered for the ceremony to mark the start of construction and highlight the chapel’s role as a long-term investment in rehabilitation.

“The chapel will be more than a building of steel and concrete,” Allred Unit Senior Warden Ronald Ivey said. “It will be a sanctuary where people can find moments of peace and complete the changes they have longed for. It will be a place where questions can be asked, forgiveness can be sought and faith can be strengthened. Here, individuals will have the opportunity to pray, reflect, study and discover a sense of purpose that can guide them toward a better future.”

The project is funded entirely through private donations, and fundraising efforts continue. The Allred Chapel Project has raised more than $1 million, coordinating donations of labor and materials.

“Today is the result of dedication, generosity and unwavering faith from so many who have given their time and resources to make this possible,” TDCJ Executive Director Bobby Lumpkin said.

He noted the agency’s 29,000 volunteers play a critical role each day and recognized Charles Grady, chair of the Allred Chapel Project, who has volunteered since the 1990s and serves as a certified volunteer chaplain assistant.

“Without his vision and work, we would not be here today,” Lumpkin said.

The 9,000-square-foot chapel will significantly expand seating capacity to 500 individuals. The air-conditioned building will operate seven days a week and will host religious services, addiction recovery programs and life-skills classes to support rehabilitation.