The parcel where Mowbray Chapel stands was purchased by the board of trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church on February 24, 1864 for the purpose of erecting a "house or place of worship". A building was constructed soon thereafter with some information regarding this first structure in the possession of Bond Chapel (near Pomona) which was part of the same charge as Mowbray.
Originally called Walton Chapel, the church faced an uncertain future in 1882 when there was no longer a congregation in the area. Later in the 1880's, however services resumed through 1889 when Sunday school was disbanded and later on October 6, 1889, the church was "destroyed by fire" during a revival. Services were hereby held a few hundred yards down the road at the Kent School. Under the leadership of the energetic minister appointed to the charge in 1889, W.R. Mowbray, Hynson's Chapel (unused for over 10 years) was granted to the Walton congregation.
It is not known the extent of the damage to Walton chapel, or what elements used in the rebuilding besides bricks came from Hynsons Chapel. But in 1890 work began on the new church. The Pastor himself was responsible for the lathing and plaster work. the total cash outlay was $970 with a large portion of the labor and materials being donated to the cause. Dedicated July 20, 1890 the church was then named in honor of the minister. In 1893 church records note that a stable was also fully paid for. This structure as of the early 1980's was still visible to the southwest of the church.
The church was declared abandoned in 1963 and remained in ruins until the 1980's After this time, there was a restoration of the church to its present condition.
Please be respectful of the area.