Our History

Much of the history of this great church was lost in the dim and dusty archives of the crucial days of the African Methodism, which followed the reconstuction years of the early 1860"s. As early as the year 1856, the genral Conference saw the need for vigourous actions in matters of extending their borders into the south, southwest and southeast. Out of that vision came the establishment of Jones Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in New Albany, Indiana in 1868. For years the church held its meetings at 4th and Main Street in London Hall under thee leadership of Father R.R. Biddle. When the church moved to Layfayette and Spring Streets Rev. Bredwill was the minister. The name Jones Chapel Was given to this little church in honor of Bishop Singleton T. Jones. This was the only A.M.E. Zion church in the state of Indiana. Ministers of the early and subsequent years were: Reverends Anthony T. Bunch, JR Johnson, Samuel Sherman, W.H. Chambers, A.W. Settles, E.J. Mckay (1942) C.W. Anthony, W.P. Powell, W.C. Johnston, ME washington, Bishop Benjamin G. Shaw, L.M. Kinnard, W.W. Dorsey, J. Irvin, E.B. Collins, Rev White, P.E. Taylor, H.P. Heath, L Biggs and Bishop Charles E. Tucker.