During Jefferson City’s earliest days, a group of both free and enslaved blacks gathered for meetings under the banner of the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) In the Methodist tradition, such groups were called societies, meeting whenever and wherever they could. General Conference selected William Paul Quinn to be a missionary and plant churches west of Ohio. Missouri was still a slave state
and Bishop Quinn stayed in Illinois, preaching across the Mississippi River at night to the enslaved blacks gathered on the Missouri side. Louis, the oldest A.M.E. Church west of the Mississippi in 1841. Bishop Quinn later traveled throughout the state of Missouri as a circuit rider, a travelling minister who moved among multiple societies of people who gathered for worship. The society in Jefferson City was formed around 1850. In 1862, the society in Jefferson City was changed to a mission, a step towards recognition as a church. This was accomplished by the Rev. John Hunter when he organized 25 members in Jefferson City. Although organized, these members went without a pastor until 1863 when the Rev. Frank Carter was sent to be their first pastor. Violet Ramsey, born enslaved, received her freedom for “motives of benevolence and humanity,” in 1838. Violet would go on to purchase her husband Elijah’s freedom along with two of her sons. Violet is recorded as purchasing land at Madison and Miller streets and building a home where Quinn Chapel held services. Violet and Elijah continued buying property, including farmland south of town that passed to their son Harrison. deeded a portion of the property, including a log cabin, at 116 East Miller to the church. He later gifted more land for a parsonage. History tells us that both the Methodist and the Baptist worshiped together in building in 1863. In 1864, Rev. Prince Wright tore down the log cabin and a wooden frame structure was erected for worship. The Rev. William Henderson built a brick structure on the corner of Madison and Miller streets in 1876. In 1955, work on Highway 50 through Jefferson City displaced Quinn and the congregation moved to 529 Lafayette Street. More changes to Highway 50 caused Quinn to move once again in 2013. This time, just one block north; the newest home of Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church sits at 415 Lafayette, still in the heart of the historic black community. Quinn Chapel took on the fight against food insecurity in March 2021 when some members launched The Ramsey Garden at Quinn Chapel A.M.E. The garden’s name commemorates the dedication and sacrifice of one of the original families. This garden plot is situated along the upper parking lot and currently is comprised of 30 raised beds. As of July 2024, the garden has produced lettuce, spinach, mustard and collard greens, carrots, cucumber, zucchini, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, peas, beans and peppers to be distributed to the public. The long-term vision is for the garden to help community members easily access healthy food. The current pastor is Rev. Stephanie Allen, who was assigned to Quinn in 2023.
