History of Petty’s Chapel AME Zion Church
Petty’s Chapel was founded in 1889 in Bessemer, AL. It is not known who founded the church, although the prevailing opinion is that the church was named in honor of Bishop Charles Calvin Pettey. The first church building was located at 19th Street and 10th under the pastorate of Reverend G. W. Turner. In 1903, the church relocated to its present site (916 – 18th Street). The church building was expanded in 1905, under the leadership of Reverend A. Cook. The church was incorporated into the city of Bessemer in 1924.
During the pastorate of Reverend W. E. Jenkins, 1931 – 1932, the first church building was demolished, and the lower level of the present building was erected. In the midst of difficult and challenging economic conditions, the members collected bricks for the construction of the lower level structure which presently serves as the Fellowship Hall with a fully-equipped kitchen, Trustee/Secretary office, and Pastor’s Study.
Through the years, the church has undergone many improvements. On 1965, the current church building was renovated under the leadership of Reverend G. W. Maize, II. In 1977, the church building was damaged by fire. Under the leadership of Reverend M. D. Nathan, the church building was repaired with additional improvements.
Under the pastorate of Reverend Jeffrey L. Cammon, the church acquired a parsonage and a house which continues to be used for rental income. These properties were dedicated by Bishop J. Clinton Hoggard. Two houses were donated to the church. Mr. Arthur C. Robinson (son of Lillian Robinson) donated his mother’s home to the church and Ms. Alfedo Acoff (daughter of Roosevelt, Sr. & Mary Acoff) purchased the Wilkes’ Family home and donated it to the church.
Under the pastorate of Reverend David L. Knight (1998 – 2004), the church started a Children’s Church, a video and an Economic Development Ministry. In 2009, under the pastorate of Reverend Michael Evans, the church purchased a vacant lot located at the corner of 10th Avenue and 17th Street, Bessemer.
Throughout its history Petty’s Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church have produced many sons and daughters who have gone into the preaching ministry.
| Rev. L. E. Blanch | Rev. P. D. Hopson | Rev. Steve Maize |
| Rev. Dr. Joseph Tolbert, Sr. | P. E. Leo Merriweather, Sr. | Sis. Charlie M Barrow |
| Rev. Dr. Teneramie C. Jimenez | Rev. Terry Winfield | Rev. Roosevelt Acoff, Jr. |
| Rev. Andrew Maize | Rev. Willie E. Shaw | Rev. Linda Acoff-Johnson |
| Rev. Gloss Edwards | Rev. Sharon Acoff-Sledge | Rev. James Richardson |
Petty’s Chapel has had many prominent pastors throughout its illustrious history. One of which went on to serve as Bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Rev. Joseph Dixon Cauthen was the pastor of Petty’s Chapel during the 1942 Conference Year and was later consecrated the 62nd Bishop in the line of succession on May 13, 1956. Bishop Cauthen served the sixteen years in the episcopacy.
Our present pastor, Reverend Warren D. Williams, Jr. was appointed to Petty’s Chapel in September 2016 and the church has grown spiritually and as well as numerically. Rev. Williams has established a strong Bible Study and music ministry, and has introduced the utilization of technology at Petty’s.