About

Jones Chapel AME Church is one of Clayton’s oldest churches. It began under a brush harbor in an area on North Armory Street near the “ole baseball diamond.” The congregational purchased the property where the church stands today and erected this structure around 1895. Approximately 9 years later (1904), the church was remolded to its present design.

Jones Chapel AME is part of a connection of African Methodist Episcopal churches started by Bishop Richard Allen over two hundred years ago. The
connection began in protest to the treatment that people of African descent were being subjected to in Prince George’s Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. True to its founding, the church continues to play an important role in the liberation of people of African descent. During the turbulent sixties, the church was the local headquarters for mass meetings. The parsonage was even the targets of gunshots during this time. The church continues to maintain that role as it is now the headquarters for the county’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Celebration.

During the Church’s one hundred- and thirty-three-year history, the church has undergone four documented renovations: the cornerstone documents that the church was renovated in 1904 under the spiritual leadership of Rev. J. S. Evans. Eventually, there were three buildings on the property: the main building that housed the sanctuary, a parsonage, and a concession stand.

In 1933, there was apparently a split in the church. Courthouse documents support that a group established a congregation as St. Johns African Methodist church just around the concern from the original church. That property was purchased from Luke and Mable Cole by a group described as trustees: Matthew McNair, C.S. Williams, Abe Wright, Will Ledbetter, and Alto Byrd. The church eventually folded. It later operated under the name of “The New Deal”. The Church eventually became what is now St. Andres Overcoming Church of Christ. In the late 1960’s under the spiritual leadership of Rev. W.G. Treadwell, 32 souls were saved and received into the church. The church hosted the South Alabama Conference for the last time. The meeting was presided over by Bishop H.N. Robinson.

One of the church’s most cherished artifacts is a scroll that honors members of the
congregation who were serving in World War II.

Jones Chapel has been blessed with 48 former pastors, at least five of them were promoted to Presiding Elder: Rev. M.C. Miles, Rev. H.W. Pouncy, Rev. W.G. Treadwell, Rev. Ralph Neal and Rev. David E. Reddick. Jones Chapel’s current Pastor, Rev. Wendy B. Morgan is the first female Pastor. During the 2010 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration held at the historic church, The Honorable Rebecca Beasley, mayor of the town of Clayton presented a Resolution to the church in recognition of its role in the Civil Rights Movement as well as for opening its doors for the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration. East College Avenue, the street on which the church stands, was named in honor of the slain leader to establish the church’s role as Headquarters for the Annual Memorial Celebration!