he ministry of Williams African Methodist Episcopal Church really extends back to the year 1896 when Countsville AME Church gathered for the first time as a church off Wessinger Road in Chapin, South Carolina. The date was Sunday, May 31st. Nothing else is known about the inception of this ministry or its history, but we do know that African Methodism had gained new ground in Chapin, South Carolina with the formation of this church.
On November 2, 1913, African Methodism continued to spread further into Lexington County as other AME worshippers gathered to form Emmanuel AME Church. Later, the church was renamed Jones Chapel AME Church and was located directly behind our present location. The history for this church is limited as well, but artifacts from both of these churches are preserved in the hallways that flank our sanctuary.
Both ministries thrived during the early years of their existence and were popular for their worship services, programs, and especially their revivals. For churches that started out as circuits founded by poor sharecroppers, Countsville and Jones Chapel were pillars in the community that provided a haven for fellowship, worship, and to express freedom from political boundaries. For a long time, they were a part of what was called “The Revival Circuit,” a powerful movement that swept through Lexington, Chapin, Columbia, and surrounding areas. The Revival Circuit occurred annually beginning in mid-July and concluding in mid-September with Jones Chapel and Countsville among the final stops. In fact, it was said that “You didn’t have a revival, unless you had it at Countsville!”
Nevertheless, as the older generations passed on and the newer generations moved away, both churches struggled in the latter years to the point that we could not continue to endure as separate entities. In other words, we needed a new beginning!
In the beginning, God saw these two churches in need and said, “Let these two churches join together to become one church,” and it was so. On February 4, 2006, members of Jones Chapel and Countsville met with the Presiding Bishop of the 7m Episcopal District, The Right Reverend Preston Warren Williams II and the Reverend Dr. William J. Smith, who was the presiding elder for the Columbia District at that time. The meeting was held at Reid Chapel AME Church in Columbia, South Carolina, to discuss the merger of the two churches. From the initial meeting, the members of both churches formed a strong bond because of the love-fellowship connection we already shared as sister churches. The anointed wisdom of our Presiding Bishop allowed him to receive the divine vision from God our Father, and through the Holy Spirit, set forth to bring the vision to fulfillment. And God saw the merger and said it was good.
In March 2006, with the merger of the two congregations, the members under the pastoral leadership of Reverend- Kirk Bellesen, met with Presiding Elder Smith to select a new name for the church. At that time, the congregation voted to name the church, Williams African Methodist Episcopal Church, in honor of the Presiding Bishop. And God saw what was done, and behold, it was very good.
During the 129th Session of the Columbia Annual Conference of the 7th Episcopal District, held in Newberry, South Carolina on September 18-25, 2006, the name of Williams AME Church was accepted and officially admitted and added to the roll of the Columbia Annual Conference and Reverend Dr. Leslie J. Lovett was appointed pastor. In November 2008, Bishop Williams appointed Reverend Lester J. Drayton, Jr. to serve Williams AME Church as our new pastor.
The mission of Williams African Methodist Episcopal Church is to serve God by sharing the gospel with all people and make the disciples of Jesus Christ. When the current sanctuary was built and dedicated on December 12, 1996, the Right Reverend John Hurst Adams, the Presiding Prelate of the 7th Episcopal District at that time, referred to it as "The Miracle on Highway 6". We will continue to be God's Miracle and will forever remain committed to God and dedicated to Building People for Christ.