Lee Chapel A.M.E , 2009 Pogue Ave
Cincinnati, OH 513-871-5885
IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL
SUNDAY - 10:30am
Office Hours: T-Wed-Thur 10am - 4pm
Church History
Our Church History
According to local church records, Lee Chapel African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, currently located at 2009 Pogue Avenue in Cincinnati, Ohio, began in 1898 as a cottage prayer service at the home of a gentleman named Green Burrell. Mr. Burrell is the one most attributed to the founding of the church. The prayer service organization was originally called "The Mission". Later, during the formative years of becoming a church, it was named Gee Chapel A.M.E. Church in honor of Presiding Elder Gee and later renamed to Lee Chapel A.M.E. Church. Mr. Burrell not only started the cottage prayer meeting, but spearheaded the renting of a building at the corner of Beechwood Avenue and Cinnamon Avenue across the street from the current location of Lee Chapel A.M.E. Church. This original location of the church currently serves as the main parking lot of the church. As more and more people attended the prayer service, Mr. Burrell looked for space outside of his home to hold the prayer service. He was able to rent the new building for $6.00 per month from a man named Samuel Anderson in 1900. Mr. Burrell worked hard to clean and paint the building and had an organ installed along with other equipment. He also secured the donation of Sunday School literature and 50 bibles. He then opened the building for Sunday School and held classes on Sundays at 3:00 pm.
Cincinnati, Ohio City records shows that a man named Green Burrell, along with his family, lived in the O’Bryonville neighborhood of Cincinnati on Beechwood Avenue which was later renamed Pogue Avenue. The earliest record is from the "City of Cincinnati Directory" listing Green Burrell as living in Cincinnati in the years 1890-1891 and working as a porter. His name appears in the 1910 and 1920 census records showing he still lived in O’Bryonville. He is listed as being born in Kentucky in or about 1858. His wife’s name was Nannie. The 1910 census lists four children named Estelle, Irene, Hanley, and Ruth. In the census records, it lists Ruth as possibly a grandchild of Mr. Burrell.
The church records even provided a list of the names of those who originally attended the prayer service and the 1900 census provided some background on some of them: (1) Laura Collins lived with her husband, John, on Madison Road; (2) Malinda Hughes; (3) Mr. and Mrs. Charles Jamison; (4) Mrs. Kirk; (5) Frank Keller and his family lived on Bryon Street in 1900. He was also found in the 1910 census along with his family. They still were listed as living on O’Bryon Street. His son, Frank, was found living on O’Bryon street with his wife in the 1930 census. Mr. Keller gave coal to the mission whenever it was needed; (6) Louise Keller served as the secretary for "The Mission"; (7) Phillip E. Daily served as the organist for "The Mission". Based on city records, he lived on O’Bryon Street with his family in 1910; (8) George Allen donated a stove for the new mission. City records listed Mr. Allen living with his family on Beechwood Avenue in 1910. He served as the treasurer.
In 1904, the prayer service organization known as "The Mission" formed the "Be and Do Society" to aid "The Mission" and to help create an interest for the young people. The credit for the name was given to Mrs. Estelle Burrell. The following persons were officers: (1) Frank Hunter, President; (2) Cecil Harris, Vice President; (3) Phillip E. Daily, Treasurer. The building was purchased from Mr. Samuel Anderson for $200.00. The persons on the Committee were: (1) Green Burrell, (2) Phillip Daily, (3) Frank Keller, Sr., (4) George Allen, and (5) Leroy Turner. These persons were probably considered the first trustees of Lee Chapel A.M.E. Church.
In 1908, Presiding Elder Gee and some members of Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church and Allen Temple A.M.E., both in Cincinnati, Ohio, attended "The Mission". After some urging from the members of Brown Chapel and Allen Temple to have "The Mission" become a church and join the African Methodist Episcopal Church which would provide assistance and support, "The Mission" joined the African Methodist Episcopal Church. After joining the A.M.E. Conference, this is when the name was changed from "The Mission" to "Gee Chapel". The old church was sold for $500.00. The cornerstone for the new church located on Edison Avenue was laid in 1909. The following ministers have been appointed to Gee Chapel which is now called Lee Chapel: (1) Asa W. Turnley (1910); (2) J. L. Griffith (1913) (1914); (3) J. M. Johnson; (4) Willis Johnson (1909); (5) T. Facing; (6) D.C. Williams (1915); (7) Anderson Ferrell (1908); (8) O. Ewing; (9) Wingfield; (10) W. H. Shelby (1933-1934); (11) Chatman; (12) W. Hampton; (13) Francis. H. Gow (1911) (1912); (14) T. W. Jackson (1918) (1923) (1924) (1925) (1926-27) (1927-1928); (15) Wallace N. Wright (1928-1929) (1929-1930); (16) CHOP McPherson (1931-32); (17) O.H. McGowan (1932-33); (18) W. H. Shelby (1933-34); (19) R.D. Murdock; (20) Simeon H. Williams (1935); (21) Alfred .H. Tate (1936-37); (22) A. T. Clark (1938); (23) R. Oscar Witheral (1922); (24) Wesley Matthews; (25) C. N. Flanagan; (26) G. Horace Jenkins; (27) Burnett S. Lane (1951); (28) C. D. Washington; (29) H. M. Mickens; (30) Paul P. Martin (1954); (31) Donald E. Newberry (1955-2005); (32) Kevin J. Cooper. (2005- 2019); (33) Norma Lynn Felts (2019 - Present) who is also the first female in the history of the church.