by Nestled in the community of Alma, North Carolina, Williams Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church stands as a testament to African American faith, perseverance, and collective strength. Founded in 1874, during the turbulent years following Reconstruction, the church has served as a spiritual refuge and cultural anchor for generations.
Early Beginnings Serving the Community
The congregation was organized under the leadership of Reverend Williams and was originally known as the Church of America of the Laurinburg District. Like many African American churches established in the late nineteenth century, Williams Chapel was more than a place of worship. It was a gathering space where faith intersected with survival, education, and mutual aid at a time when Black communities faced widespread exclusion and hardship.
A defining moment in the church’s early history came on August 18, 1881, when a parcel of land was deeded to Miss Carolyn Page for the purpose of building a permanent sanctuary. With limited resources but unwavering determination, church trustees and members took on the task themselves. After long days of labor, they gathered in the evenings and on Saturdays, working by hand to construct their house of worship. Their efforts culminated in a structure that symbolized not only faith, but ownership, dignity, and communal pride.
In 1910, under the pastorate of Reverend T. M. Stitt, the congregation placed a cornerstone in the right front block of the church, marking both physical permanence and spiritual resolve.
The Church’s Historic Witness
Adjacent to the church lies the Williams Chapel cemetery, a sacred landscape that deepens the site’s historical significance. While the earliest legible tombstones date to the 1930s, oral history and physical evidence indicate burials reaching back to the late 1800s, including unmarked graves. The cemetery also contains the graves of World War I and World War II veterans, linking this rural congregation to national stories of service and sacrifice.
Over time, the original sanctuary deteriorated and became structurally unstable. Though the building could not be saved, remnants of the historic structure remain on the grounds, bearing witness to the labor and faith that shaped the congregation’s beginnings.
In 1987, Williams Chapel entered a new chapter with the construction of a modern edifice designed by a Black engineer, reflecting African American professional achievement and continuity in sacred architecture. In November 1993, Reverend Jeanette Jones was appointed pastor, and the new church was formally dedicated on March 13, 1994.
Carrying the Legacy Forward
Today, Williams Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church is pastored by Reverend Clarence Weston, Jr., who has faithfully led the congregation since November 10, 2020. Under his leadership, the church continues to serve as a place of worship, remembrance, and community engagement, honoring its past while guiding future generations.
Williams Chapel’s story reflects broader themes in African American history—collective labor, faith as resistance, reverence for ancestors, and the enduring power of community. As preservation efforts continue, the church and cemetery remain living symbols of resilience, dignity, and hope.
Williams Chapel may be smaller in number, but it remains deeply rooted in its community. The congregation continues to show up in simple, meaningful ways, such as sharing food baskets and hosting community cookouts, all while spreading the word through relationships, family connections, and word of mouth.
They are continually looking for ways to expand their reach and care for their neighbors. Last year, Williams Chapel hosted an after-school lunch a few times in Robeson County and is now exploring the possibility of starting a box garden this year. As part of this ongoing journey of learning and connection, Williams Chapel has joined the Flourishing Congregations Initiative to grow alongside and learn from their neighbors.
About Elizabeth Leach
Elizabeth Leach is a retired healthcare worker and a lay leader at Williams Chapel AME Zion Church. She is a mother of two, a grandmother of six, and a great-grandmother of four. She is also a participant in the Flourishing Congregations Initiative and considers herself very blessed!
