Quinn Chapel A.M.E.C.

One of Louisville’s oldest African American congregations, Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Louisville, Kentucky, was established in 1838 as “Bethel, House of God”, in a room over a public stable at Second and Main Streets. The Church is named after the Right Reverend William Paul Quinn, a Senior Bishop in the A.M.E. Church (from 1848 to 1873) and the first African American Bishop to visit the City of Louisville, Kentucky.

About 10 years after its founding, the Church relocated to Fourth and Green (now named ‘Liberty’) Streets., where it became known also as the ‘Old Fourth Street Church’.

After another move to Ninth and Green Streets and a short stay, a new brick building for the Church was completed and dedicated in 1854 at Ninth Street and Walnut Street (now ‘Muhammad Ali Boulevard’).

There the Church remained until 1910, when it moved to its fifth location at 912 West Chestnut Street. The building, originally built in 1884, was purchased from Weaver Memorial Baptist Church, a white congregation. This building is noted as a prime example of the Gothic Revival architectural style.

Quinn Chapel has retained its integrity in design, materials and craftsmanship. The eastern steeple has been removed but original stained glass windows and decorative masonry features are still intact. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

The now Quinn Chapel Church was erected, and the congregation transitioned there in 2002, located on Muhammad Ali Boulevard between 19th and 20th Streets.  This is the current and perhaps its final location at 1901 West Muhammad Ali Boulevard, Louisville, Kentucky.