1866 - Pierce Chapel

Henry McNeal Turner, the first black appointed as an army chaplain, provided statewide leadership for the African Methodist church in Georgia and established many congregations. Organized in 1866, this church was named Pierce's Chapel in honor of the Reverend Lovick Pierce, a white minister who helped this congregation worship independently in a building on the Oconee River. The basement of this early church housed a school for adults and children, which served as a forerunner to the opening of the public school system in 1885. In December 1881, the congregation purchased the current site, which also included a building to be utilized as a parsonage.

1916 - New Sanctuary

Macon architect L. H. Persley and Athens builder R. F. Walker formulated the plans and constructed the church in 1916. In 1969 urban renewal plans required demolition of the parsonage, and in 1973, an education/community center building was built on an adjoining lot. As a prominent institution within the black community, the church continues to house the oldest black congregation in Athens.

1972 - CD Wilkerson Center

Under the leadership of Dr. Clayton D. Wilkerson, FAME experienced its greatest achievement by dedicating its educational center, deservedly named in honor of Dr. Wilkerson.

1980 - Historic Designation

The First A. M. E. Church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (March 10, 1980).

1998 - First AME Church is officially recognized as a historic landmark by the Commissioners of Athens-Clarke County, GA..

2006 - During its 140th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, July 16, 2006, FAME formally dedicates a state historical marker on behalf of Louis H. Persley of Macon, GA, the first African American architect licensed in Georgia and designer of First AME Church.

 

Origin - The African Methodist Episcopal is an offspring of the Methodist which was founded by John Wesley in England and America in the eighteenth century.The Methodist movement itself began in 1739 when John Wesley, an Anglican started within the Church of England a movement to improve the spiritual life of his Church. The movement became widespread. Many of the followers of the movement emigrated to America. Wesley,realizing the future for the spread of Methodism in the Colonies, ordained Dr. Thomas Coke, an Anglican priest, and sent him to organize the Church in America. Dr. Coke arrived and called a General Conference in Baltimore, Maryland in December 1784. At this "Christmas Conference, Richard Allen (founder of the American Methodist Episcopal Church),was present as an observer only, and was not a delegate or a voter. Methodism grew as the Methodist riders went from point to point, from settlement to settlement,and from plantation to plantation. The African Methodist Episcopal Church sprang from the American counterpart of the Methodist Church.

Organization of the African Methodist Episcopal Church

The African Methodist Episcopal Church has a unique and glorious history. It is unique in that it is the first major religious denomination in the Western world that had its origin over sociological rather than theological beliefs and differences. The immediate cause of the organization of the A.M.E.Church was the fact that members of the St. George's Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia Pa., in 1787 segrated its colored members from its white communicants. The Blacks were sent to the gallery of the Church, to use the venerable Richard Allen's own words. One Sunday as the Africans, as they were called, knelt to pray outside of their segrated area they were actually pulled from their knees and told to go to a place which had been designated for them. This added insult to injury and upon completing their prayer, they went out and formed the Free African Society, and from this Society came two groups: The Episcopalians and the Methodists. The leader of the Methodist group was Richard Allen. Richard Allen desired to implement his conception of freedom of worship and desired to be rid of the humiliation of segregation,especially in church.

Richard Allen learned that other groups were suffering under the same conditions. After study and consultation, five churches came together in a General Convention which met in Philadelphia, Pa., April 9-11, 1816, and formed the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The name African Methodist came naturally, as Negroes at that time were called Africans and they followed the teaching of the Methodist Church as founded by John Wesley. The young Church accepted the Methodist doctrine and Discipline almost in its entirety.

 

The establishment of Project Renew, Inc. to oversee the Hiram House revitalization was a major accomplishment for First A.M.E. Church. Project Renew, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in April 1995 in Athens, Georgia. The initial interest group included Mr. Harold Taylor, Ms. Aurelia Scott, Ms. Patricia Harrison, Dr. Ivery Clifton and Dr. Robert Harrison. It was under the exceptional leadership of the late Mr. Harold Taylor (founding president) and the dedication and tenacity of Ms. Patricia Harrison that brought The Hiram House to completion.

Before declining health reduced his active involvement, Bro. Taylor had been responsible for building a consensus among the church membership to move forward and apply for rehabilitation funds through the Athens-Clarke County Department of Human and Economic Development.

Later, Dr. Ivery D. Clifton assumed the presidency and Ms. Harrison, as Agent, worked tirelessly as the official liason between the City and the Church - and ultimately the driving force to completion.