Our Heritage

On May 22, 1780, Bishop Francis Asbury, the founder and leader of Methodism in America, held a service in the Nansemond area, and about one hundred people discussed the formation of a Methodist Society. In 1801, a Methodist Society was formally organized in Suffolk.

Following the formation in 1801 of a Methodist Society, the citizens of Suffolk felt a need for a meeting house where several different church denominations could hold services. A simple-frame building was constructed 'on the hill' (now Cedar Hill Cemetery) and was called Union Chapel. As was the custom of the time, masters and their slaves worshipped together with the slaves seated in the rear or the balcony.

Shortly after the conclusion of the Civil War in 1865, the Colored (Africans) briefly worship separately from whites at Union Chapel. Sometime after the remaining white congregations stopped worshipping at Union Chapel. In 1866 the Colored (Africans), formed and called themselves Methodist. Their mission congregation fell under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Although the Colored (Africans) Methodist Church continued to worship at Union Chapel, Union Chapel was eventually purchased by the Methodist, now Main Street United Methodist Church.

The Colored (Africans) Methodist Church opened its doors to a group of African Baptists, the current First Baptist Church Mahan Street. One congregation worshipped in the front and the other in the rear. The number of worshippers grew so large; the two congregations began to worship on alternate Sundays. Eventually, the Colored Baptist moved to Church Street.

Having already completed a new worship facility on Main Street, the Methodist Church agreed to sell all materials from Union Chapel for the construction of a church at a different location. In 1867, the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church extended a letter of invitation for the African Methodist to join the AME Church. The invitation was met with approval by the Methodist Church and accepted by the Colored (Africans) Methodist. The AME Mission was birthed.

In October 1868, the African Methodist Mission purchased a lot on Pine Street from Richard and Marie Tynes which is where the church now stands. These early members did not own wagons and other means of transportation, so they transported the disassembled timbers of the old Union Chapel, plank by plank and board by board from Cedar Hill to Pine Street on their shoulders. Sometime during 1869, the building was deemed habitable for worship.

The records of the Fourth Virginia Annual Conference of African Methodist Church held during 1870 indicates that Macedonia Mission was officially accepted into the Virginia Annual Conference. Bishop A.W. Wayman, presided at the conference. Macedonia Mission was assigned to the Portsmouth District under the leadership of Reverend D.W. Schureman, Presiding Elder.

Macedonia Mission Official Board of 1870 consisted of the following Trustees: Richard Tynes, Jr., Levy Ricks, Rich Artis, Arnold Ricks, George Randall, William Jackson, and Frank Phil. The following person was nominated by Reverend Richard Goven and confirmed by Presiding Elder Schureman as Stewards: Robert Walters, Richard Holland, W.W. Newby, and John Cohon.

With the prayers and the help of GOD, the church building on Pine Street was completed and the deed was recorded on the 12^th of January 1872. The trustees of record on the 1872 deed were the following: Richard Tynes, Jr., David Jackson, Neely Holland, James Hardy, Boston Bryant, Solomon Saunders, and James Reed.

The records of the Thirteenth Virginia Annual Conference of African Methodist Church held during 1879 indicate that Macedonia Methodist Mission became Macedonia African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Since the establishment of the Methodist (Africans) Mission a host of pastors, parishioners and friends have served the church and the surrounding Suffolk Community. Macedonia is proud of her history and the many blessings God has bestowed upon her. Today she remains challenged to minister to the spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and environmental needs of all people by spreading Christ’s liberating gospel through word and deed. Likewise, she remains challenged to carry out the spirit of the original Free African Society, out of which the AME Church evolved: that is, to seek out and save the lost, and to serve the needy.