Asbury Chapel AME Zion History

The Asbury Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church was organized in Scranton, Mississippi (renamed Pascagoula) in 1874. Having humble beginnings, the church worshiped under a bush harbor located east of the present site. In August of 1889, William and Sallie Dickenson donated property to the Trustees and their successors of the A.M.E. Zion Church. On this property, a one-room wooden church was built on Jackson Street, (later named Convent Avenue).

The first Bishop of Asbury was the Right Rev. J.W. Hood. He assigned Rev. Henderson as the first pastor to this church. Asbury was destroyed twice by fire. The church was rebuilt in 1906, but a windstorm that same year damaged the church building severely. In 1907, the church was reconstructed under the leadership of the Reverend M. E. Church pastor, Presiding Elder A.J. Rogers and Bishop J.W. Alstork. This church building had a large pitched roof, stained glass windows and a bell tower. The sanctuary was adorned with beautiful oil lamps, a lovely pipe organ, and a furnace stood midway the church. There was a small storage house behind the church.

In November of 1964, the Rev. James Thomas Goode, Sr. was appointed to Asbury Chapel. During his pastorate, the church was completely renovated–an education building and a new parsonage were built and completed in 1968. The old parsonage was a large frame white house with a white front porch. It was sold to Mrs. Nadine McInnis Brown and moved to Railroad Ave. in Pascagoula.

In September of 1985, Hurricane Elena caused significant damages to the sanctuary and education building. Under the leadership of Reverend Paul L. Whiteurs, the church was repaired and restored. In 1995, under the leadership of Rev. Samuel E. Leach, the educational building was expanded. Three years later, in September 1998, Asbury Chapel fell prey to the disruptive forces of Hurricane Georges, but by the grace of God, the education building was spared damage and worship services were held there until the sanctuary was repaired.

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The storm surge caused major structural damages to the church and extensive damage to the education building and the church parsonage. Local and Federal Governmental authorities rendered the damage to the church structure as unsound, therefore the church was demolished. The education building and parsonage were completely gutted. Despite the storms, God was still good to Asbury Chapel.

In March 2006, under the leadership of the Reverend Joyce F. Grant, the membership returned to a newly restored education building, using the fellowship as a sanctuary for worship services. In 2007, the parsonage repairs were completed. Volunteers from across America helped with the restoration.

In previous years, Asbury purchased property from the family of Peggy Henry, Irma Herger, Jones, and Lottie Herger Ware. It was on these three lots that the new sanctuary was constructed. In 2008, during the 127th Annual Session of the West Alabama Annual Conference under the leadership of the late Bishop James Elbert McCoy, the building was dedicated. Rev. Joyce F. Grant was our pastor and the Rev. James Taylor was Presiding Elder of the Mobil District. The late Bishop James McCoy was instrumental in helping to raise funds throughout the Connection to assist in the reconstruction project at Asbury Chapel.

Many years of church maintenance and up-grades to the Asbury Church property have been possible by two faithful members, Mr. Roscoe Cox and Mr. Edward King. Most of these repairs were made free of cost to the church. They both continue to donate their services to the church today. The present church exterior metal hand railing was fabricated and installed by Mr. Cox, who is a Master Carpenter. Mr. Kind has taken care of plumbing repairs and up-keep of the church grounds and property. These are just a few of the many contributions of their time and talents they have made to bless the church.

Asbury Chapel has been blessed to have been served by twenty eight faithful pastors who have served this church well.

Our current pastor, the Reverend O’Neil Wiley, was given his pastoral Appointment at the 132nd Session of the West Alabama Annual Conference in November 2014, by the Right Rev. Dennis V. Proctor. Under Rev. Wiley’s leadership, the church has experienced revival and revitalization. The church is growing spiritually, as well as numerically. There have been many accomplishments and enhancements to the worship center, worship services, as well as the church property. We have purchased a new Hammond Digital Organ and a new digital key board. We have also installed monitors in the Education Building, Vestibule, and Sanctuary. We have also upgraded our sound system in the church. in 2018, the church bought and paid for 5 lots directly across the street from the church.

God has surely been good to the Asbury Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. To God be the glory for all He has done in the past, what He is doing now, and what He will do int he future.