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The Congregations of the Nicodemus A.M.E. Church

Black and white photo church on the prairie, made of large limestone bricks. At the front of the church are white double-doors. Above these doors are the words "A.M.E. CHURCH 1885".
The Nicodemus A.M.E. Church in 1943. The A.M.E. congregation later added stucco over the limestone bricks to protect them from wind and rain. The north entrance, on the right side of the photo, is no longer standing.

William J. Belleau, “The Nicodemus Colony of Graham County, Kansas.” Masters thesis. Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas.

The building now known as the Nicodemus A.M.E. Church hosted two different congregations: the Second Baptist/Mount Pleasant Baptist and the A.M.E. congregations.

Second/Mount Pleasant Baptist Church

In December 1889, members of the Mount Olive Baptist Church, northwest of Nicodemus, and members of the First Baptist Church formed the Second Baptist Church, as it was first called. Reverend Silas M. Lee, who originally led the First Baptist Church, led this new congregation. Shortly after forming, the congregation began to build a church, but construction took many years.

According to Kansas newspapers and church records, the congregation mostly finished and started meeting in the building in 1897. The Kansas Baptist Review of Topeka, Kansas, published a report of an annual meeting of the WaKeeney Baptist Association on September 30th:

“The Mt. Pleasant church should be commended for the effort put forth by them to complete their house of worship which was commenced some time ago, but now they will soon have it ready for use. They succeeded in getting it in good condition to hold the Association meetings.”

The stone lintel above the church’s entrance, now covered, also gives evidence that the congregation considered the church complete and dedicated it in 1897.

Photo of a large, chipped limestone brick above a church entrance. There is rough Gothic-style text engraved on the stone that reads: "Mt. Pleasant Babpt. Church F+D 1897".
This engraved limestone lintel above the entrance to the Nicodemus A.M.E. Church reads “Mt Pleasant Babp’t Church F + D 1897.” It is now covered by stucco.

NPS Photo, ca. 2000

However, some construction continued until around 1904. Local newspapers reported the completion of finishing touches such as new pews and whitewashing the walls.

The Mount Pleasant Baptist Church put their building to good use. Like other Nicodemus churches, they hosted community events that included picnics and lectures. All were welcome to attend, and events co-hosted with other Nicodemus churches brought larger crowds. However, despite their early success, the congregation slowly declined through the first decade of the 1900s and disbanded around 1910.

“The sisters of the Mount Pleasant Church gave an ice cream and strawberry social last Thursday...

Mount Pleasant and Mount Olive churches will unite and have Children’s Day exercises. It will be the second Sunday in June.”

-          The People’s Reveille (Hill City, KS), May 31, 1906

African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church

In 1879, Reverend Jerry Myers, from Leavenworth, Kansas, formed the Nicodemus A.M.E. congregation with several residents. These first members included his wife Mary Myers, Zachary Fletcher, Jenny Fletcher, Charles Baxter, Moses Wims, and Kittie Wims. In its early years, the congregation did not meet regularly and met at the First Baptist Church or private homes.

In 1885, Reverend Charles H. Brown replaced Myers and began raising money for a church building. Construction started in the fall of 1886 and finished about a year later in the fall of 1887. This church stood on the west side of town, north of the District #1 School.

Like the First Baptist Church, the A.M.E. Church was a major religious presence in Nicodemus. It held well-attended quarterly conferences and grand rallies to welcome people into the congregation. The churches of Nicodemus often worked together, and pastors filled in for each other at religious services or gave guest sermons. Churches also co-hosted events like children’s days or the annual Decoration Day in late May, where community members walked to local cemeteries and decorated veterans’ graves.

“There will be a picnic and Ball Game in the grove and at night a program will be rendered at the Baptist Church. After the program, the A. M. E. Church will give a social. The program will begin at 7 o’clock p.m.”

-          The People’s Reveille (Hill City, KS), April 23, 1908

For Nicodemus residents, religious life and social life often intersected. They used the A.M.E. Church not just as a place of worship, but as an important social meeting place. The Nicodemus A.M.E. congregation used its building to host everything from 4th of July and Emancipation Celebration events to literary societies, ladies’ sewing circles, fundraising dinners, and travelling art shows.

The first A.M.E. Church building burned down on May 19, 1896. The congregation started building a new church in the same location in 1897 and completed it around 1903. However, this new church was poorly built and by 1906, the congregation planned to tear it down and rebuild it.

In 1910, the Nicodemus A.M.E. congregation bought the recently disbanded Mount Pleasant Baptist Church’s building. When they moved in, the A.M.E. congregation called this building “Brown Chapel” in honor of Reverend Charles Brown. They continued to hold services, host events, and serve the community of Nicodemus. Several pastors served the A.M.E. Church throughout its history, and in the early 1920s Reverend Joseph Wilson, who had assisted the church since at least 1902, became the leading church Elder. Reverend Wilson led the A.M.E. Church until his death in 1967. The congregation disbanded soon after, having been in decline for several years.

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Last updated: July 9, 2026