Thomas Chapel C.M.E. Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Thomas Chapel C.M.E. Church
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Streetside view
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 Location in Kentucky
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| Location | Moscow Avenue Hickman, Kentucky |
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| Area | 0.2 acres (0.081 ha) |
| Built | 1895 |
| Built by | Rev. Warren Thomas |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000988 |
| Added to NRHP | January 9, 1979 |
Thomas Chapel C.M.E. Church is a special historic church located on Moscow Avenue in Hickman, Kentucky. It is part of the Christian Methodist Episcopal (C.M.E.) group of churches. This church group was started in the southern United States after the American Civil War.
Contents
A Church with History
Thomas Chapel C.M.E. Church was built in 1895. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This list includes important places in American history.
The C.M.E. Church Begins
The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church has a very interesting history. On December 16, 1870, a group of 41 formerly enslaved people met in Jackson, Tennessee. They had been part of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
Before the Civil War, the main Methodist Church had split into two groups: one for the North and one for the South. After the war, many African Americans wanted to create their own churches. They wanted to lead their own communities without outside control. So, they formed what was first called the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1954, they changed the name to the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
Building the Church
The Thomas Chapel C.M.E. Church is made of strong stone and brick. It was built to replace an older church building that was destroyed in a fire. The church's leader at the time, Reverend Warren Thomas, was skilled in building. He was a carpenter and a mason, which means he worked with stone and brick.
Why This Church Is Important
Thomas Chapel C.M.E. Church is very important to the history of Hickman, Kentucky. It played a big role in helping to educate the African American community in the town. It was also the very first church for African Americans founded in this small western Kentucky town.
