Murfreesboro in Rutherford County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Key Memorial United Methodist Church
Circa 1865 - Present
— United Methodist Church Registered Historic Site No. 87 —
Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 24, 2022
1. Key Memorial United Methodist Church Marker
Following the Civil War, local African American Methodists sought to establish their own church. In 1866, the Rev. Braxton James, formerly of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, led efforts to establish a new church – named James Chapel Methodist – at the corner of College and Highland streets. The Tennessee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church held its first session there in October 1866 and admitted 30 ministers, 8 of whom were African American. In 1880 the Rev. Hillary Key led the congregation to build a new structure, and the congregation later re-named the church Key's Chapel Methodist Church. The church succumbed to fires in the 1920s and 1963. The church moved to its present location in 1967.
Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 3A 255.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the United Methodist Church Historic Sites series list. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1866.
Location. 35° 50.487′ N, 86° 22.747′ W. Marker is in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in Rutherford County. Marker is on East State Street east of Kerr Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Located in front of
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Dr. James Robert Patterson (approx. 0.2 miles away); Union University (approx. ¼ mile away); Tennessee College for Women (approx. ¼ mile away); Mary Ellen Vaughn (approx. 0.3 miles away); Holloway High School (approx. 0.4 miles away); Middle Tennessee State Teachers College Training School (approx. 0.4 miles away); Joseph B. Palmer (approx. 0.4 miles away); Bradley Academy (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Murfreesboro.
Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 24, 2022
2. Key Memorial United Methodist Church Marker
Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 24, 2022
3. Historical Marker and Cornerstones
on Church
on Church
Historic Site
No. 87
Key Memorial
Methodist Church
Organized 1865
Rebuilt 1967
A.D. 1879.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 20, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 24, 2022, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 110 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 24, 2022, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
