Our History
The Beginning
In the year of our Lord 1840, a group of God-fearing dedicated Christian men and women decided that their should be an Africian Methodist Episcopal Church in the Village of Tangipahoa, Louisiana. They began to worship under a bush arbor, two miles west of town. Rev. Charles Andrews was the pastor in charge at this time. Some of the members who began this Christian journey were Bros. Alex Wilson, Ike Bickham, Ed Armstead, John Tate, Louis Pool, Jim Strickland and Sisters Nora Forster, Ella Tate, Francis Bickham and many others.
About 1849, the church moved to a three and a half arce donated by Mrs. Ora Lillie. A building was erected on this site, which later became the cemetery. Our records do not reflect who was in charge at this time. About 1864, the church was moved again and was located in at the present site in the Village of Tangipahoa. During this period, it was pronounced that all churches in the AME Connection should be honored with a name. Rev. Quinn was serving as charge at that time, and with his congregation he built the first small frame building. Therefore the church was named Quinn Church.
In 1938, tradegy struck Quinn Chapel! The beautiful old wood frame structure was destroyed by fire the congregation held its Sunday Worship Services in the Tangipahoa Colored School.
Three other churches were built to house Quinn's Chapel Congregation since that time following the fire, and under the administration of Rev. S.T. Huston a new wood frame edifice was completed. Rev. Steward and Rev. Haughton served as pastors at this time and the Rev. Whitfield was our Presiding Elder.
The first brick building was constructed in 1965 by Rev. T.H. Terry, Rev. Elijah Nelson and Rev. Johnson served as Presiding Elders. Some of the ministers that pastored Quinn Chapel were:
Rev, Forster, Rev. Paul Exkano, Rev. Lorenzo Clark, Rev. Robert S. Hall, Rev. Otis S. Lewis, Rev. Nelson Taylor, Rev. Joseph Pitts,
Rev. Herbert Spears, Rev. Bernard Gibson and Rev. Nathaniel Cyprian.
Under the leadership of Rev. Nathaniel Cyprian our current edifice was errected. He served one year after the completetion of our church. Rev. Lawrence Morris Sr. answered the call to preach under his leadership. The Rev. D.J. Campbell Jr., served as Presiding Elder of the New Orleans Greensburgh District.
Rev. Marshall Holiday Jr., was appointed to Quinn Chapel in November 1997, and served thriteen years. During his administration the church was recapitalized for a lower rate, and a large neon sign was purchased. He designated the fourth Sunday in June as the permanent date for our Homecoming celebration he helped in starting the Summer Feeding Food Service Program at our church for the commmuity.
Under his leadership Rev. Frances Cook, Itinerate Elder, Rev. Mary Vernon and Local Deacon Rev. Emma Cohn-Allen through his leadership became ordained in the Louisiana Conference. Rev. Holiday retired October 2010, after thirteen years of service and preached the opening worship service, his final sermon as an appointed pastor accompanied by Quinn Chapel Senior Choir in the Louisiana Annual Conference at Allen Chapel Baton Rouge, La.
Rev. Russell Obee was appointed to Quinn Chapel October 2010. Under his administration Rev. Elsie Smith became an Itinerate Elder. Our church was paid off. Although Rev. Obee was here for a short time. Rev Obee and member's purchased a 15 passenger van for the church, a computer and financial software was donated.
Before the conference year ended, Rev. Obee was appointed in April 2014, to his home church in New Orleans L a Rev. Marshall Holiday Jr and Rev. Otis S. Lewis became our pastors until the Annual Conference was held in November 2014. Rev. Lewis served as Presiding Elder and Rt. Rev. Carolyn Guidry was Bishop of the Lousiana Conference.
Rev. Troy T. Grimes was appointed to Quinn Chapel. He has been instrumental in helping to restore our church due to a flood in 2016. Under his administration the church underwent major changes. The interior was restored with new carpet, pews, pulpit furniture sound and security systems and new computer. A pavilion was also built as protection from the rain when entering the sanctuary.
Rev. Grimes has been an inspiration to our church and many people have joined under his administration. With his help in guiding us spiritually there are no boundaries in which we are held by.