Historic Visitors Chapel A.M.E Church

Historic Visitors Chapel A.M.E Church Founded 1870
Sunday School 9:00 AM
Sunday Morning Worship 10:30 AM
Bible Study Wed Night 6:30 PM In the year 1868, Rev. Henderson Patillo and Rev. B.W. Rev. G. W. B.

Whitlow traveled by wagon to Hot Springs from Malvern, Arkansas. They were known as Circuit Riders and Readers and met with a few Negro worshippers in Hot Springs, under a brush arbor surrounded by oak trees. Henderson Patillo with a small group in 1870 organized the first church on the site of the present Visitors Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church. No record exists of Rev. Patillo in the

1870 census of Hot Springs County, from which Garland County was formed in 1873, however, he is listed in the 1880 census of the City of Hot Springs, age 45 (born 1835) in North Carolina. Another man who was destined to play an important role in the history of our church was “Diamond Joe” Reynolds, a fabulous Chicago industrialist and one of the most prominent men of his day. In 1873, he and a group of friends were en-route to Silver City, near Hot Springs, to inspect mineral prospects. In order to get to Hot Springs, they had to transfer at Malvern from the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad to a stagecoach. After a miserable bumpy stagecoach ride from miserable bumpy stagecoach ride from Malvern. Reynolds vowed he was going to build a narrow gauge railroad from Malvern to Hot Springs and started the project in the spring of 1874. The railroad was completed in 1875 and became known far and wide as the “Diamond Joe Line.” During the time he spent in Hot Springs, God moved the heart of this remarkable, kind, and generous man and he donated the land on which our historic church now stands. The first church was a log cabin type structure, interior and exterior, lighted by oil lamps hung from the center of the ceiling, and tallow candles along the sides of the walls. The year 1878 proved the first set-back, as the building was destroyed by a fire on March 5th, which ravaged for better than eight hours along Valley Street (now Central Avenue). The entire Hot Springs business district was in ashes, with the loss estimated at $300,000. Loyal members of the church, however, began to rebuild in 1879. Unfortunately, again to the sorrow and disappointment of its members, the second church was destroyed on February 25, 1905, when 25 blocks were devastated by another Hot Springs fire. On a lazy, sultry afternoon, September 5, 1913, a laundress living in a rooming house on Church Street, left a shirt on her ironing board with a burning charcoal furnace dangerously nearby and went next door. The inevitable happened. From that rooming house the flames swept rapidly westward, engulfing the church once again. It destroyed 50 blocks, causing a ten million dollar loss, the most disastrous fire in the history of Arkansas. Rebuilding of our present structure was begun in 1913 under the Pastorate of Rev.H. Montgomery; Rev. Winston, Presiding Elder and the Presiding Bishop was Bishop W. D. Chappelle. Our red brick structure located on Cottage and Church Street has been a part of the long struggling history of Hot Springs for 143 years. Built by slaves and sons of slaves, the architecture of our church, with its towering dome, is unique. It still has the original coal bin which was used to heat the building. Some say it is the Old Ship of Zion, and others the Beacon Light on the Hill. Forty-seven ministers have served Visitors Chapel. We have been pastored by some of the best leadership of our heritage. Three former pastors and one Presiding Elder were elevated to Bishopric: Bishop Howard T. Primm, Bishop George Wayman Blakely, Bishop George Napoleon Collins, and Bishop O.L. Sherman. In June 1995, we were listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Currently under the leadership of Rev. Gregory C. Nettles renovations continue to be made to our beloved church.

ML King Prayer Breakfast honoring posthumously Rev. CV Boyd Sr. Former pastor of Visitors Chapel AMEC. His wife Mrs Bird...
01/20/2025

ML King Prayer Breakfast honoring posthumously Rev. CV Boyd Sr.
Former pastor of Visitors Chapel AMEC. His wife Mrs Birdie Boyd, daughters Patricia & Leslie.

HAIR OR HORNS?? You decide😂😜!!
01/09/2025

HAIR OR HORNS?? You decide😂😜!!

To God Be All the Glory🙏🏾
01/06/2025

To God Be All the Glory🙏🏾

01/05/2025

January 5, 2024
Happy New Year
Scripture Jeremiah 31: 7-14

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01/02/2025
5th Sunday and last Sunday 2024. Jehovah Jireh our Provider. Message from Matthew 9:16-17
12/30/2024

5th Sunday and last Sunday 2024. Jehovah Jireh our Provider. Message from Matthew 9:16-17

CHRISTmas at VC🎄
12/30/2024

CHRISTmas at VC🎄

Without Jesus there would be no reason for CHRISTmas🙏🏾
12/24/2024

Without Jesus there would be no reason for CHRISTmas🙏🏾

12/22/2024

December 22, 2024
Scripture Luke 1:39-45

Merry Christmas

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12/15/2024

December 15th 2024
Scripture Zephaniah 3 : 14-20

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12/08/2024

December 8, 2024
Scripture Luke 1 68-79

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12/03/2024

Thank You Rev. Douglas Jones ‘We have an Attitude of Gratitude’ for helping to make this day a truly blessed celebration!

12/01/2024

December 1, 2024
Scripture Jeremiah 33 14-16

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First Sunday of the last month in the year…Ain’t God good, really good🙏🏾
12/01/2024

First Sunday of the last month in the year…Ain’t God good, really good🙏🏾

11/24/2024

November 24, 2024
Scripture Revelation 1: 4-8

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Address

319 Church Street
Hot Springs, AR
71901

Opening Hours

Wednesday 6pm - 7pm
Thursday 10am - 12pm
Sunday 9am - 10:15am
10:30am - 12:30pm

Telephone

+15016232975

Website

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Vistor's Chapel AME Church Zoom
Vistor's Chapel AME Church Zoom

January 5, 2024 Happy New Year Scripture Jeremiah 31: 7-14 We do not own rights to any music in this video

Vistor's Chapel AME Church Zoom
Vistor's Chapel AME Church Zoom

December 22, 2024 Scripture Luke 1:39-45 Merry Christmas We do not own rights to the music in this video

Vistor's Chapel AME Church Zoom
Vistor's Chapel AME Church Zoom

December 15th 2024 Scripture Zephaniah 3 : 14-20 We do not own rights to any music in this video

Vistor's Chapel AME Church Zoom
Vistor's Chapel AME Church Zoom

December 8, 2024 Scripture Luke 1 68-79 We do not own rights to any music in this video

Thank You Rev. Douglas Jones ‘We have an Attitude of Gratitude’ for helping to make this day a truly blessed celebration!

Vistor's Chapel AME Church Zoom
Vistor's Chapel AME Church Zoom

December 1, 2024 Scripture Jeremiah 33 14-16 We do not own rights to any music in this video

Vistor's Chapel AME Church Zoom
Vistor's Chapel AME Church Zoom

November 24, 2024 Scripture Revelation 1: 4-8 We do not own rights to any music in this video

Vistor's Chapel AME Church Zoom
Vistor's Chapel AME Church Zoom

November 10, 2024 1 Kings 17 8-18 We do not own rights to any music in this video

Vistor's Chapel AME Church Zoom
Vistor's Chapel AME Church Zoom

November 3, 2024 Scripture Mark 12 28-34 we do not own rights to any music in this video

Vistor's Chapel AME Church Zoom
Vistor's Chapel AME Church Zoom

October 27, 2024 Scripture Psalms 34 1-10 we do not own rights to any music in this video

Vistor's Chapel AME Church Zoom
Vistor's Chapel AME Church Zoom

October 20, 2024 Scripture: Mark 10 35-45 we do not own rights to any music in this video

Vistor's Chapel AME Church Zoom
Vistor's Chapel AME Church Zoom

October 6, 2024 Scripture Hebrew 1 1-4 We do not own rights to any music in this video

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