Watson Chapel

The Paris African Methodist Episcopal Church

On February 4, 1864 a band of Christians organized under the leadership of Rev. H. B. Hancock to form a church, to be known as the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Meetings were held at the old Hucksters Hall, now the Second Baptist Hall, with the members of the Christian and Baptist congregations sharing different worship hours on Sundays until their churches were built. On week days it served as a school house.

On July 26, 1880 land was rented from Dr. David Moss where, under Rev. J. P. Watson, the corner stone was laid and the present church built on the site. The church derived its name, Watson Chapel, from Rev. Watson. On April 24, 1883, the land was bought from J. C. Fox, the founder of Paris, and given the seal of approval from President Andrew Jackson, where the present parsonage and church are located.

Trustees were Ralph Fawkes, Albert Wells, Wm. Allen, Frank Brown, George Vivian, and Andrew Watson. The building was partially destroyed by lightning on October 4, 1909, but was rebuilt August 27, 1912.

In addition to the trustees, other charter members were:

 

Lewis

Hayden

Long

Washington

Venerable

Brown

Buerk

Harrison

King

Hinton

House

Gossett

Watts

Bogler

Green

Patton

Jewell

Burris

Crowe

Tolson

Reed

Thornton

Troy

 

 

Other families through the years have been; Evans, Shropshire, Lasley, West, Campbell, Beechum, Barnes, Butler, Bolden, Fugates, Carter, Curtright, Thompson, Batsell, Galbraith, Edwards, Scott, Smith, Adkison

 

Mrs. George (Ursula) Summers has the oldest membership in the church and is active in all affairs of the church. She is a descendent of Elizabeth King (granddaughter) and Albert Wells (niece) both charter members.

The church has produced three local pastors, Rev. L. B. Troy, of the A.M.E. Church of Macon; Rev. D. P. King, C.M.C. of Columbia; Rev. W. W. Kelly, C.M.E., Sedalia, also three licensed Missionaires, Sisters Rosa Summers, Stella Soil and Ursula Summers, who also served as district president of the Allen Christian Endeavor League for 24 years.

Ministers of the church were:

Reverends:

Hancock

Christopher

Ramsey

Jenkins

Richardson

Holliday

Hoff

Rogers

Warren

Meadows

Seals

Finney

Daniels

Pollard

Soil

Hamilton

Boone

Clarkson

Thomas

Berry

Whiters

 

History written by Mrs. Ursula Summers