Timeline

1784-1787 - A.M.E. Zion organization formed in New York.

1796 - Mother Zion (NY) church was the first church of A.M.E. Zion.

1825 - Amherst College created a church for the school community.

1825 - Rev. Eldredge proposed African American families meet in homes for Sabbath meetings and studies.

1851 - Moses Goodwin was born. 

1861- The Amherst College church became an independent church for African American families.

1868 - Amherst College gave permission for the creation of Zion chapel because the African American population grew.                    

March 12, 1869 - Zion Chapel officially dedicated.

1899 - African American Zion Congregation wanted less white influence on their church.

1903 - Rev. E. C. Brown becomes pastor of Zion Chapel.

1904 - Booker T. Washington to helped raise money for the new building. 

1905 - African American Zion Chapel members presented a petition asking to establish an independent parish of their own.

~1906 - Congregation split among African American Zion Chapel members. Two sisters allowed Moses Goodwin to buy the land for a church.

1907 - Amherst College members granted African American  Zion Chapel members permission and support for their own independent chapel.

July 10, 1910 - African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church of Amherst was officially dedicated.

1912 - Hope Church was built.

1923 - Hope Church and Zion Church attempted to be federated. 

1954 - Amherst College students repainted the inside of the church.

1967 - Zion A.M.E was renamed after the Goodwin family.

1993 - Ruth Goodwin died.

1998 - Rev. Lewis became the pastor 

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