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 very old and important church located on Moscow Avenue in Hickman, Kentucky. It is part of a special group of churches called the Christian Methodist Episcopal (C.M.E.) denomination. This church group was started in the Southern United States after the American Civil War. The church building itself was constructed in 1895 and has been recognized as a historic place since 1979.
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A Special Church Building
The Thomas Chapel C.M.E. Church is made of strong stone and brick. It was built to replace an earlier church building that was unfortunately destroyed in a fire. The person who helped build this church was its reverend, or pastor, named Warren Thomas. He was very skilled, working as both a carpenter and a mason (someone who builds with stone or brick).
Why This Church Is Important
This church is considered very important for a few reasons. It played a big role in helping to educate the Black community in Hickman, Kentucky, a long time ago. It was also the very first Black church established in this small town in western Kentucky.
The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is a special group of churches that began in the United States.
How the C.M.E. Church Started
On December 16, 1870, a group of 41 freedmen (people who were formerly enslaved) gathered in Jackson, Tennessee. These individuals had been members of a church group called the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. They decided to form their own church group, which they first called the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church.
Before the Civil War, the larger Methodist Church had split into two main parts: one for the North and one for the South. After the war, many African Americans wanted to have their own churches where they could worship and lead their communities without white supervision. This led to the creation of the C.M.E. Church. In 1954, the denomination changed its name to the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
Images for kids
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Streetside view
