Quinn Chapel AME Celebrating 200th Year In Chillicothe

Presented By McDonald’s, I’m Lovin’ It!

As early as 1796 Methodism was known in the area. Meetings were held in private homes. By 1803, when Chillicothe became the first capital of Ohio, meetings were held in a log house at the northwest corner of Second and Walnut Streets or in the State House with other congregations.

In the beginning, both African American and White Methodists worshiped together in a small brick church, which stood on the north side of Second Street, between Paint and Walnut Streets. This was the first Methodist Church in Chillicothe and the two races worshiped together here for a number of years. In those days they dressed plainly and wore no jewelry. They could be identified anywhere by their dress. The male members wore broad-brimmed hats and shad-bellied coats. The women wore Quaker-like bonnets and habits.

The African American Methodists of Chillicothe were destined to experience the very conditions, which caused the founders of the A.M.E. Church to walk out of St. George Methodist Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1776. St. George’s African American members increased greatly, resulting in their being moved to the gallery. This made it difficult for them to get to the altar prayer segment of the service. By the time African American members arrived at the altar, prayer was over, at which time they were pulled from their knees. They walked out – in a body – never to return. Similarly, the number of African American Methodists in Chillicothe grew tremendously and they also were moved to the gallery and compelled to wait until the White Methodists had communed. This was the principal cause for the subsequent separation. The African Americans had contributed their share to the support of the ministry and helped defray the expenses of the church. Naturally, they wanted to enjoy equal rights and privileges with their White brethren. In 1821, the African American members severed their connection with the White Methodists and went out to organize an independent church under the leadership of Richard Allen. For a number of years, they went under the name Allenites.

On May 30, 1821, at the home of Rev. Peter James – on the south side of Fourth Street, between Mulberry and Paint Streets – the first A.M.E. church –Quinn Chapel– was organized by Reverend William Paul Quinn, who later became Bishop Quinn. This made Quinn Chapel the oldest A.M.E. church in the state of Ohio and the oldest African American Church west of the Allegheny Mountains.

(History provided by Quinn Chapel AME website)