The history of Randolph County gives the date of organization of Payne Chapel Church as 1866. 

On December 14th, 1878, the lot on which we sit today was purchased. In 1879, the First Annual Conference of Southwest Georgia was organized at Payne Chapel on January 22nd. The conference opened with a full roll of members and officers, and Bishop J.P. Campbell presided. The conference convened again at Payne Chapel on December 12th, 1888. Due to limited resources during that time, no further records were available for the next 30 years from 1888 to 1918.

Four Services were held at Payne Chapel each Sunday. They were Sunday School, 11 o'clock service, ACE League, and night service. 

From 1982-1986, Payne Chapel was extensively renovated but was not completed. This is where our campaign "Restore Payne Chapel" derived. Click here​ for more information. Added were a new educational and fellowship building, updated pews, fresh choir robes and other improvements in and around the building. The last Annual Conference to convene in Cuthbert at Payne Chapel was under Reverend W.J. McClain's administration in 1986. 

On first Sunday of October 2015 members from Saint John AME Church in Cuthbert came and merged with Payne Chapel. To honor that day of transition the pastor of Saint John AME Church, Reverend Shelia Barns White, was preacher for the communion service. In the pastors since 1865 were 50, Presiding Elders 35, and 23 Bishops. Our present Bishop is the Right Reverend Reginald T. Jackson. The Reverend John W. Bass serves as the Presiding Elder. On April 12th, 2019 the Reverend Keundra T. Cobb was appointed to serve the Payne Chapel Church family.