Our History

Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (now called McConnell Chapel) was organized in 1913 in Fayette, Alabama by Felix McConnell, Sr. and his brother Bert McConnell and the Rev. James Blakey, who was the first pastor. Due to a fire, Mt. Zion was completely destroyed. Due to the change of demographics and the increase of people moving into the town of Fayette, in 1922, some of the members had enough foresight to build in town. A church meeting was held at the Masonic Hall, which was then and presently located next to Peaceful Rest Baptist Church. The new edifice now named the McConnell Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was erected at 465 3rd St. N.W. (next to the Masonic Hall) on September 8, 1922, under the continued pastorship of the Rev. James Blakey and the Presiding Prelate, Bishop Benjamin Garland Shaw. The trustees board were Felix McConnell Sr., Bert McConnell, Rance Burris, Louis Moore, and Sid Carr. The families of the original trustees are still supporters and active members of the church today.

In 1972, McConnell Chapel was rebuilt under the pastorship of the Rev. William F. Dill and dedicated by Bishop Felix Sylvester Anderson. The trustees were: Nathan Matthews, chairperson; Felix McConnell; J. Hollingsworth; Charlie Dixon; John Richardson; Adolphus McConnell; James Whiteside; J.E. Burris, Secretary. On August 14, 1977 Mortgage Burning Ceremony was held under the pastor ship of the Rev. O. L. Scott; the Rev. Mrs. Ruth Richardson, Asst. Pastor; Presiding Elder, the Rev. G. W. Bolden, and the Presiding Prelate, Bishop J. Clinton Hoggard. On September 10, 1978 under the continued pastorship of the Rev. O. L. Scott and First Lady, Mrs. O. L. Scott, McConnell Chapel celebrated their 65th Anniversary. On May 29, 1983, their first “Homecoming Day” was celebrated under the pastorship of the Rev. Leo Merriweather; the Presiding Elder, the Rev. C. F. Berry, and the Presiding Prelate, Bishop J. Clinton Hoggard. Remember the other pastors that a difference in the spiritual growth of McConnell Chapel life; the Rev. Ruth Richardson and Rev. Truman.

September 1995 to July 2004 under the auspices of the Bishop Richard K. Thompson, the Rev. Morris Reese and Mrs. Julia Reese was appointed to McConnell Chapel. Under his leadership, the church went through another renovation, and an addition was added to the rear of the church to include a fellowship hall, classroom, secretary office and Pastor’s office. A computer and copier machine were purchased. The sanctuary was remodeled with cedar pine. On July 18, 2004, the Rev. Nathaniel Green was appointed pastor at the Lay & Minister Training Institute held at Lomax-Hannon Jr. College in Greenville, Alabama. This appointment and others were the last made by Bishop Richard K. Thompson, who was reassigned at the 47th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference, the Right Reverend James E. McCoy re-appointed the Rev. Nathaniel Green to McConnell Chapel.

In September 2006, Bishop McCoy appointed Rev. Singrid Sanders to McConnell Chapel. Rev. James Hollingsworth, Jr. served as pastor from 2015-2017. Rev. Terrence Williams was appointed pastor of McConnell Chapel in September 2017. Rev. James Richardson served as our pastor from 2017 until September 2022, when Rev. LaShaun Hilton was appointed our pastor at the 2022 Annual Conference. God has truly blessed us.