Methodism was known in Chillicothe as early as 1796, and from 1803 to 1821 African American and white Methodists worshipped together in the town's first Methodist church, a small brick building on the north side of Second Street between Paint and Walnut Streets. Although they worshipped and communed together, the African American Methodists were required to sit in the gallery on the north side of the church and were the last to receive communion, and they felt they did not enjoy equal rights and privileges with the white members despite contributing to the church's spiritual, physical, and financial support. In 1821, led by Rev. Peter James, the African American members left and formed their own congregation, which was organized by Rev. William Paul Quinn, later Bishop Quinn. Founding members included Peter James, Harry Hitt, Edward Jackson, Thomas Woodson, Adam Brown, Perry Cowan, Burrell Curtland, Jacob Butcher, George Amos, Ira Ellis, Moses Freeman, Rodger Williams, Elisha Coleman, Edward Brown, and their wives, along with Fanny Diamet, James White, Willie Washington, and Elsey Brown. Thomas Woodson, his family, and other members were operators in the Underground Railroad. The congregation placed itself under the leadership of Rev. Richard Allen of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and became known as Allenites, and later as the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Its first brick building at the present location was erected in 1857 under Rev. Samuel Watts, by which time the congregation was called Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church. The present building was constructed in 1910 under the pastorate of Rev. W. E. Walker. The Chillicothe congregation is the oldest A.M.E. church in Ohio and the first A.M.E. church organized west of the Allegheny Mountains.