[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12732]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO QUEEN CHAPEL A.M.E. CHURCH

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                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 11, 2002

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Queen Chapel 
African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church on the occasion of their 
celebration of a new sanctuary after 136 years. It was my hope to join 
the congregation at the dedication and a daylong jubilee celebration 
this coming Saturday.
  Queen Chapel A.M.E. Church is not only the oldest church on Hilton 
Head Island, but also the oldest A.M.E. church in the State of South 
Carolina. Queen Chapel represents the rich Gullah-Geechee cultural 
history and religious heritage that is characteristic of the coastal 
Sea Islands.
  Queen Chapel A.M.E. Church was founded when Minister Richard Harvey 
Cain--who served in this body for four years--Reverend James A. 
Johnson, and Reverend James Handy arrived on Hilton Head Island in the 
area called Cherry Hill. As they waited for a violent storm to pass 
over, they decided to have church services with prayer and singing 
under a large, oak tree. This was to be an historic event because it 
was where the African Methodist Episcopalian religion began in the 
state of South Carolina.
  The property where Queen Chapel now sits was purchased from W.D. 
Brown in 1886, and the first church was built on September 11, 1892. 
The pastor of Queen Chapel during that era was Reverend R.C. Williams, 
and the presiding elder was Reverend P.W. Jefferson. Some of the 
Church's early members include Abraham Grant; Ben Singleton, Sr.; Jake 
Green; Ceasar Johnson; Paul Edwards; Ed Green; Perry Ward; Sarah Grant; 
Joe Jones; Ben Jones; Harry Burke; John Burke; John Henry Perry; Nellie 
Perry; Fannie Burke; Christina Williams; Martha Goff; Sarah Singleton; 
Mary Cannick; Maria Green; Blind Joe Ellis; Backus Johnson; Julia Reed; 
Lula Jones; Chamberlin Robinson; Mae Bell Simmons; and Ida Singleton. 
Later members were Charlie Singleton; Willie Singleton; Mae Bell Aiken; 
Beulah Kellerson; Raymond Perry; James Grant, Sr.; Viola Murray; Marion 
Aiken, Sr.; William Kellerson; William Brown, Sr.; Abraham Johnson; 
John Patterson; and many others whose relatives are still members of 
the congregation today.
  The present church was built in 1954, with the Reverend S.C. 
Washington serving as pastor, the Reverend F.M. Reid as Bishop, and the 
Reverend J.C. James as presiding elder. The officers credited with 
building the new church were James Grant, Sr.; Solomon Grant, Sr.; John 
Patterson; Marion Aiken, Sr.; William Kellerson; Abraham Johnson; and 
Leander Cannick, Sr., just to name a few.
  The new facilities of this prominent church on Hilton Head Island 
will not only serve the Queen Chapel congregation, but will also serve 
the entire community with considerations for amenities such as day care 
and after school tutoring.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me today in honoring 
Queen Chapel A.M.E. Church which is raising another sanctuary after 136 
years on the same hallowed grounds. I wish the congregation and 
surrounding community Good Luck and Godspeed on this special occasion.

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