Founded: In 1888, the first African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) church was organized in Oviedo, Florida with approximately seven participants. In 1898, the group purchased its first piece of property under the name St. Hebrew A.M.E. Church. The name was changed to Grant Chapel A.M.E. Church in the early 1900s. 

First Trustees: Bro. Dave Hayes, who came to the community in the early 1900s, was one of the original trustees. Trustees in 1929 included Bros. J. B. Knight, Louis Zanders, and John Cummings.

Trustees 2022-2023 CY: Sisters: Jackie Smith Nelson, Roberta Mims. Brothers; Calvin Henderson, Anthony Mays, Sr., Clinton Dunston, Andrew Turner, and Fred Mobley. 

Property: A second piece of property was purchased in 1926 from Mr. Sam Stephens. In 1954, Rev. L.J. Flowers, an accomplished carpenter, constructed a concrete block sanctuary with the help of church members. Property purchased in 1964 from Mr. John Mims, was used to construct a pastorium that houses the kitchen, dining area, restrooms, office and living accommodations for the Pastor’s family. These facilities were orchestrated under the leadership of Rev. J. E. Connelly. 

Former Pastors (25): The Reverends; C. C. Brooks, L.W. Williams, Rev. Gibson, J. L. Butler, C. T. Edwards,  Rev. John Allen Knight, Sr., G. Anderson, G. Flowers, Henry Green,  Frank R. Satchel, John E. Connelly, Morris Brown, H. L. Dixon, Frank Fayson, James E. Hannans, Jack Williams Sr., L. R. Campbell, Jessie Haywood, Sylvester Bradley, Lucious C. Dorsey Jr., Kelvin LeVon Simms, Michael E. Kennedy, W. Damone Johnson, Joseph L. Brooks, La’Fiesta Cox Brown (Grant’s first female Pastor), Rhonda Connelly McIntyre.

Bishops: Daniel Alexander Payne (1888), Henry Y. Tooten, Philip R. Cousin, J. Hurst, Frank C. Cummings, John Hurst Adams, McKinley Young, Adam J. Richardson, Jr. Our current Bishop is Frank Madison Reed, III.
   
Presiding Elders: G.A. Rutledge, Henry Green, John Mainer, LeRoy Kennon, Henry Postell, James O. Williams, and Valarie J. Walker (Grant’s first female Presiding Elder). Our current Presiding Elder is Milton Broomfield.

God Called to Ministry from Grant: The Reverends; Samuel Stallworth, Eddie Tossie, Robert Smith (all deceased). Also, Revs. Raymond Stallworth, James Williams, Jr., Sheila Hamilton, Exhorter William Jones (deceased), Exhorter Cynthia Hamilton-Smith, and Deaconess Ada Griffin. The Rev. Rebecca Thompson transferred membership from New Bethel A.M.E. in Geneva, FL under Pastor Rhonda Connelly McIntyre. 

Our Pastor: We are blessed to be under the current leadership of our 26th Pastor, The Reverend Phyllis Rose Brown, Master of Divinity, who was assigned to Grant Chapel in October 2020 during the Covid-19 Pandemic. During this critical time of worldwide health concerns and facility closures, Grant Chapel began a season of virtual praise and worship services during which attendance grew. We re-opened the Sanctuary following authorization by our Bishop in the Summer of 2021. Today, we continue to hold powerful virtual and in-person services and studies. A profound student and teacher of the Gospel, Rev. Brown leads, shares and encourages in-depth study of the Bible, inspiring our congregation’s increased enthusiasm for God’s Word. Passionate about our youth, Pastor Brown consistently stresses the need to keep them focused on their relationships with God. Our First Gentleman, Greggory Brown, Sr., demonstrates his love for Grant Chapel in a variety of ways including support to our Music Ministry as a drummer, engagement in training and activities for our youth, and the promotion of strong community connections. We are grateful to have this devoted Man of God as part of our family.

Church Accomplishments: We have been blessed over the years with many accomplishments, including a few of the following, more recent achievements as we approached and entered the early 2000s:

-Under the leadership of Pastor Lucious C. Dorsey Jr. from 1995 to 2001, our Sanctuary and Annex kitchen area were totally renovated. Pastor Dorsey’s dedicated work with a coalition of diverse churches in the Oviedo area served to better connect Grant Chapel with the community in Spirit and Service – to include outreach programs to feed local senior citizens. Pastor Dorsey’s vision led to the purchase of adjacent property that increased the acreage/footprint of Grant Chapel grounds.

-Under leadership of Pastor Kelvin Simms, which began May 2001, we started the Pastor's Aide Board, Outreach Worship & Evangelism, Men's Voices of Praises, Membership Care & Support, Public Relations, Hospitality, Sons of Allen, and Performing Arts/Music Ministries. We also purchased a 15-passenger church van.

-Under leadership of Pastor Michael E. Kennedy, which began November 2004, the roof was replaced on the Annex/Parsonage. We began the God’s Center Outreach Ministry, Sisterhood Ministry and formed Brotherhood with the Sons of Allen.

-Under leadership of Pastor W. Damone Johnson which began in 2008, our Usher Board was re-organized, and the Stewardess Board increased with the addition of Junior Stewardesses.

-Under leadership of Pastor Joseph L. Brooks, which began in November 2010, we purchased a new air conditioning unit, converted Pastoral Office space in the Parsonage, purchased a new sound system, paid off the van loan, installed new window shutters, held Voter Registration Symposiums and Job Skills Workshops, and enhanced our Music and Praise Dance Ministries.

-Under leadership of The Rev. La’Fiesta Cox Brown, which began in September 2014, we initiated our Women in Ministry community outreach, Intercessory Prayer Ministry, Evangelism and Health Ministries, and All-Night Prayer sessions. We also hosted our first Men’s Conference. 

-Under leadership of The Rev. Rhonda Connelly McIntyre, which began in March 2016, we introduced opportunities for members to participate more interactively in Bible Study by leading discussions of assigned readings. We also began “Young Adult” 4th Sunday services. A major accomplishment was paying off the church mortgage! Another huge blessing was having Mother Ada Griffin consecrated as a Deaconess.

-Under leadership of our current Pastor, The Rev. Phyllis Rose Brown, we introduced use of technologies that enhanced our ability to unite and connect beyond physical boundaries to share God’s Word. Specifically, Grant Chapel built and launched its first website, introduced live streaming and replay of Sunday services, enabled use of social media and online giving platforms, updated computer and printer systems for the Administrative Office, and purchased computer tablets for youth to participate in weekly Youth Explosion Bible Study and Area, Conference and Episcopal YPD Ministries. During the 2021-2022, we also increased District participations and upgraded capabilities of our Media Ministry to include the addition of video monitors and new microphones in the Sanctuary. Sis. Doshia Mae Knight Mitchell’s sons, Anthony and Austin Mitchell, donated two computers for the media ministry in honor of their beloved mother. Sister Doshia Mitchell was also the daughter Rev. John Allen Knight, Sr. who previously pastored Grant Chapel. Other achievements under Pastor Brown time-frame include installation of new air conditioning systems in the Sanctuary (2021) and in the Parsonage/Annex (2022). The entire electrical system of the church and Annex were upgraded and/or rewired, security monitoring cameras were added, and we restarted our Van Ministry (after extensive repairs). During the 2021-23 time-frame, Pastor Brown led the charge to have a new roof installed on Grant’s Sanctuary and Annex/Parsonage – debt free. Moved by the Holy Spirit, Pastor Brown also strengthened Grant’s community connections, outreach and engagement -- reaching across boundaries of culture, demographics, ethnicities and denominations to carry out the mission of telling the Good News to all. Our Pastor’s inspiration and vision led to Grant hosting its first “Community Unity Day” which is now planned to be an annual event. Similarly, our 2022 and 2023 “7 Last Sayings of Jesus” from the Cross featured a diverse slate of guest Pastors and welcomed people to our church from across Central Florida. Mayor Megan Sladek, the Honorable Mayor of the City of Oviedo, was our honored guest on Good Friday of 2023. 

Grant Chapel is truly a cornerstone in the Central Florida community. We give all Honor and Glory to God, knowing that the best is yet to come!


In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28a)