Browns Chapel Church

A beacon of hope. That’s how many saw Browns Chapel Church during the tumultuous days of the Civil Rights Movement. Here at Browns Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, we stand on hallowed ground. Browns Chapel Church wasn’t always a grand structure. It began humbly in 1866 as a prayer movement in the homes of devoted individuals. This small but fervent group soon organized themselves into a church, holding services in the basement of Selma’s Albert Hotel. Just a year later, in 1867, Browns Chapel A.M.E. Church officially joined the A.M.E. Connection. The first physical structure of Browns Chapel Church was built on this very site in 1869. The church we see today, however, is a reconstruction from 1908, the sole surviving work of A.J. Farley, a prominent Black builder of the early 20th century. Browns Chapel Church became a focal point during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. It was within these walls that mass meetings were held, strategies were planned, and spirits were bolstered. These gatherings were so impactful that Alabama Governor George C. Wallace attempted to suppress them. He ordered an injunction against mass meetings in Black churches. Despite the legal challenges, the brave Pastor P.H. Lewis, with the backing of Bishop I.H. Bonner, reopened Browns Chapel Church. It became the epicenter of the movement in Selma. The church provided not only a space for organizing, but also shelter for those who traveled from afar to join the fight for equality. One pivotal moment etched in history is “Bloody Sunday”. On March 7, 1965, a group gathered on the steps of Browns Chapel Church. Led by future Congressman John Lewis, they embarked on a march for voting rights. They were met with brutal resistance at the Edmund Pettus Bridge. This violent confrontation became a turning point in the fight for civil rights. Later, on March 21, 1965, thousands, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., returned to the bridge. This time, they marched the 47 miles to Montgomery under the protection of the National Guard. Their perseverance paved the way for the Voting Rights Act, signed into law on August 6, 1965. Browns Chapel Church stands as a testament to the power of faith and the courage of those who fought for justice. In 1997, the very road where the marchers walked was designated a National Historic Trail, starting right here at the steps of Browns Chapel Church. And in 1998, Browns Chapel Church was honored as a National Historic Landmark.