Payne AMEC - Chatham

---

“The Little Church With the Big Heart” 

Payne A.M.E. Church traces its origins to 1849, when a group of African American citizens in Chatham, New York, came together with a shared desire to worship God free from discrimination and prejudice. Forming an A.M.E. Society, they established a spiritual foundation rooted in faith, resilience, and the determination to uplift the name of the Lord.

From its earliest days, the Society was supported by members of the broader religious community in Chatham. By 1852, it held its first formal public worship service, continuing thereafter in the homes of its members. Historical records suggest that by 1873, the Society had access to a public house of worship near Hudson Avenue, though it did not yet own property of its own.

In 1887, Mr. Abram Pugeley donated land at Spring and Locust Streets, enabling the congregation to begin constructing its own church building. This effort, supported by both members and the wider community, was seen as a labor of love and a step toward self-determination.

Before completion, however, the structure was destroyed by fire, set by members of the Ku Klux Klan. The loss included not only the building but also irreplaceable historical records. Yet the congregation refused to be deterred. The pastor at the time publicly declared that no act of hatred could stop the work God had ordained.

With renewed determination, the church continued its fundraising efforts, supported in part by A.M.E. congregations in Troy and Kinderhook. Despite opposition, African Methodism in Chatham grew in both strength and number.

Under the leadership of Rev. C. M. Gibbons, the church experienced significant growth. Through his community connections, Rev. Gibbons partnered with Mr. Louis F. Payn, whose efforts in organizing fundraising initiatives proved instrumental in securing resources to build a permanent edifice.

In 1890, the congregation purchased the land upon which the church now stands. By 1896, the building was completed and formally dedicated on December 2 by Bishop Adam Grant, with participation from local clergy across denominational lines.

The church was initially named in honor of Louis R. Payn but was later renamed Payne A.M.E. Church in honor of Bishop Daniel A. Payne, reflecting its deepening connection to the broader A.M.E. tradition.

That same year marked additional milestones, including the academic achievement of Sis. Louise Van Buren, one of the first African Americans in the community to complete the prescribed course of study at the Union Free School.

Though fires and the passage of time destroyed portions of its early records, Payne A.M.E. Church continued to build and sustain a place of spiritual beauty and communal strength. A parsonage was constructed between 1912 and 1914, and by 1921 and again in 1929, the congregation celebrated the burning of its mortgages—testimonies to both sacrifice and stewardship.

Throughout the 20th century, the church undertook continued renovations, enhancing its sanctuary and facilities while maintaining its sacred purpose. Over more than 150 years, Payne has been served by approximately forty pastors, each contributing to its spiritual growth and development.

The church has also served as a place of formation, notably as the first pastorate of Rev. Dennis C. Dickerson, later Historiographer of the A.M.E. Church.

Today, Payne A.M.E. Church stands as a living testament to the faith of its founders—those who believed that where there is vision, God will sustain the work. In their footsteps, the congregation continues to lift the banner of Christ, rooted in a legacy of perseverance, community, and enduring faith.

• Rev. I. J. Franklin
• Rev. J. H. Nickles
• Rev. D. K. Jackson
• Rev. C. N. Gibbons
• Rev. R. R. Phipps (1901–1903)
• Rev. A. W. Pierce (1906–1907)
• Rev. P. G. M. Brown (1908–1911)
• Rev. Walter Mason (1911–1912)
• Rev. S. B. Morris (1912–1914)
• Rev. I. S. Sands (1914–1917)
• Rev. J. E. Peterson (1917–1921)
• Rev. J. M. Proctor (1921–1926)
• Rev. W. F. Coffey (1929–1932)
• Rev. L. C. Newby (1932–1933)
• Rev. W. J. Douglas (1933–1934)
• Rev. R. E. Duval (1934–1938)
• Rev. H. L. Gault (1938–1939)
• Rev. H. J. Thomas (1939–1940)
• Rev. R. J. Hamilton (1940–1949)
• Rev. D. E. Walker (1949–1950)
• Rev. E. W. Thompson (1950–1956)
• Rev. J. H. Bryant (1956–1958)
• Rev. Elliott Mayfield (1958–1959)
• Rev. A. E. Marshall (1959–1961)
• Rev. J. A. Boxley (1961–1966)
• Rev. Alfred E. Harper (1966–1967)
• Rev. George W. Barker (1967–1970)
• Rev. Eddie L. Mayes (1970–1971)
• Rev. Samuel Bell (1971–1975)
• Rev. Leroy Johnson (1975)
• Rev. John B. Days (1975–1978)
• Rev. Vernal Sims (1978)
• Rev. Joseph Brame (1978–1980)
• Rev. Dennis C. Dickerson (1980–1985)
• Rev. William Gathers (1985–1987)
• Rev. Lee A. Thomas Jr. (1987–1991)
• Rev. K. L. Singletary (1991–1995)
• Rev. Micah D. Chandler (1995–1999)
• Rev. Ella Brandon (1999–2005)
• Rev. Iris F. Waddell (2005– )