Natchez24web

Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church
A historic church serving the present age. MELANIE MCMILLAN
For over 165 years, a beautiful white church has
stood on the corner of North Dr. MLK Jr. and Jefferson
Streets. The building that is now home to the Zion
Chapel African Methodist Episcopal congregation
was originally constructed by First Presbyterian
Church as a church home for Second Presbyterian
Church. “Zion Chapel was organized in the early
1860s by Page Tyler,” says Zion Chapel Pastor Rev.
Birdon Mitchell. “The church was originally located
on Union Street between Franklin and Main, but that
building was destroyed by fire. It was then that the
congregation moved to the current location, which
they rented from First Presbyterian Church. On July 1,
1868, Zion Chapel purchased the property, and it has
been home ever since.”
Serving as pastor at Zion Chapel at that time was
Hiram Rhodes Revels, a well known figure in Mississippi
history. Revels was elected as a Natchez alderman in
1868 and went on to represent Adams County in the
Mississippi senate. In 1870, after being nominated by
the Mississippi legislature, Revels was sworn in as the
first African American to serve in the United States
Senate. Following his senate term, Revels became
the first president of Alcorn A&M College, now Alcorn
State University.
Zion Chapel recently became home to a bust of
Hiram Revels, sculpted by Oklahoma artist Bob Willis,
and unveiled at a ceremony on September 30, 2023.
Roscoe Barnes III, PhD, cultural heritage tourism
manager with Visit Natchez, was instrumental in
organizing the event, according to Pastor Mitchell.
“Roscoe deserves the credit for the idea to host an
unveiling ceremony at the church,” says Pastor Mitchell.
“We are grateful to Visit Natchez for working with us
to bring this event to the public.”
Many were on hand to honor and speak about
the life and legacy of Hiram Revels. Along with Rev.
Birdon Mitchell, Norma West, trustee pro tem of Zion
Chapel A.M.E. Church, and member of the Downtown
Natchez Alliance Board of Directors, spoke to
attendees, followed by Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson.
“He (Hiram Revels) is a man who emulated the best of
America and the best of Natchez,” Gibson said.
40 2024 VISIT NATCHEZ