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