Daniel Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church was organized in Phoenix, Illinois on July 17, 1938 in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Grayson by Rev. Thomas L. Daniel. Services were held in the Grayson’s home for about five weeks until the Community Club House was secured.

The late Dr. Silas Samuels who was then our Presiding Elder held our first Quarterly Conference. With the help of God, our membership increased and on August 1, 1939 a building was purchased at 15110 Ninth Avenue and the church moved into that location.

In July 1954, Rev. Daniel was assigned to pastor the St. John A.M.E. Zion Church in Hammond, Indiana and Rev. Ernest Benford was assigned as pastor to Daniel Chapel. Rev. Benford worked hard to achieve much during his tenure. However, in October 1955, Rev. Benford departed this life to be with the Lord.

At that time Bishop W.J. Walls assigned Rev. Henry Miller to be our pastor. This was a good young minister with progressive ideas and a membership that was willing to work. Under his leadership, on May 1, 1963 Groundbreaking Ceremonies were held here at our present location, 15250 Third Ave.

Rev. Miller, having led the Daniel Chapel congregation in the building of its church; its administrative wing; and its parsonage; had a new dream. He had witnessed and shared the concerns of those who were unable, due to physical handicaps, to attend service or transverse the steep and sometimes dangerous stairs to the sanctuary. His dream was to create a clean, safe, and spacious environment that would accommodate the needs of the handicapped and add convenience, beauty, and access to the church-house.

In 1988, the officers and members set out to change the façade of the church and to provide, to all who would come, a place for worship. The plans were laid, the sketches were complete, and the design approved. In 1989, the work was completed.

Upon the retirement of Rev. Miller in 1990, Bishop Clinton R. Coleman appointed Rev. Harry Spigner to the pastorate of Daniel Chapel on February 24, 1991.

In a meeting in April 1991 with the Building Fund Committee, Rev. Spigner discovered that the mortgage balance was $120,000 and that over $15,000 a year was consumed by interest. He challenged the committee, the officers and the church family to an effort to retire the mortgage by October 1992. After 14 months of work, giving and sacrifice by the church and with the use of building fund monies, on June 6, 1992 it was found that the Building Fund Committee had enough funds to effectively eliminate the mortgage.
Praise God!

The Congregation continues to grow in spirit, ministry, and witness as evidenced by the overwhelming success of our past Street Evangelist Crusade held in August of previous years. Further plans that were underway were for a new addition to Daniel Chapel. The Antioch Addition was completed within a years time.  This addition is a center for worship preparation and from which ministries are launched.

Today, as we worship, we can truly witness that God has given the increase. Rev. Daniel planted, Rev. Benford, Rev. Miller and Rev. Spigner watered, and God gave the increase. We thank God for sending us true servants of God to lead us along the journey.

The entire congregation of Daniel Chapel continued to give praise of gratitude of God for all things.

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Daniel Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church was organized in Phoenix, Illinois on July 17, 1938 in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Grayson by Rev. Thomas L. Daniel. Services were held in the Grayson’s home for about five weeks until the Community Club House was secured.

The late Dr. Silas Samuels who was then our Presiding Elder held our first Quarterly Conference. With the help of God, our membership increased and on August 1, 1939 a building was purchased at 15110 Ninth Avenue and the church moved into that location.

In July 1954, Rev. Daniel was assigned to pastor the St. John A.M.E. Zion Church in Hammond, Indiana and Rev. Ernest Benford was assigned as pastor to Daniel Chapel. Rev. Benford worked hard to achieve much during his tenure. However, in October 1955, Rev. Benford departed this life to be with the Lord.

At that time Bishop W.J. Walls assigned Rev. Henry Miller to be our pastor. This was a good young minister with progressive ideas and a membership that was willing to work. Under his leadership, on May 1, 1963 Groundbreaking Ceremonies were held here at our present location, 15250 Third Ave.

Rev. Miller, having led the Daniel Chapel congregation in the building of its church; its administrative wing; and its parsonage; had a new dream. He had witnessed and shared the concerns of those who were unable, due to physical handicaps, to attend service or transverse the steep and sometimes dangerous stairs to the sanctuary. His dream was to create a clean, safe, and spacious environment that would accommodate the needs of the handicapped and add convenience, beauty, and access to the church-house.

In 1988, the officers and members set out to change the façade of the church and to provide, to all who would come, a place for worship. The plans were laid, the sketches were complete, and the design approved. In 1989, the work was completed.

Upon the retirement of Rev. Miller in 1990, Bishop Clinton R. Coleman appointed Rev. Harry Spigner to the pastorate of Daniel Chapel on February 24, 1991.

In a meeting in April 1991 with the Building Fund Committee, Rev. Spigner discovered that the mortgage balance was $120,000 and that over $15,000 a year was consumed by interest. He challenged the committee, the officers and the church family to an effort to retire the mortgage by October 1992. After 14 months of work, giving and sacrifice by the church and with the use of building fund monies, on June 6, 1992 it was found that the Building Fund Committee had enough funds to effectively eliminate the mortgage.
Praise God!

The Congregation continues to grow in spirit, ministry, and witness as evidenced by the overwhelming success of our past Street Evangelist Crusade held in August of previous years. Further plans that were underway were for a new addition to Daniel Chapel. The Antioch Addition was completed within a years time.  This addition is a center for worship preparation and from which ministries are launched.

Today, as we worship, we can truly witness that God has given the increase. Rev. Daniel planted, Rev. Benford, Rev. Miller and Rev. Spigner watered, and God gave the increase. We thank God for sending us true servants of God to lead us along the journey.

The entire congregation of Daniel Chapel continued to give praise of gratitude of God for all things.

View Larger Map