Our history dates back to 1920 when the church started in a brush arbor across from the L & N railroad tracks on what was the old Mallory Air force site and is now the Gateway Shopping Center. In 1923, property was acquired in the Villa Land Company's Douglass Place Subdivision and the church moved to the  present location of 1480 Ash Street.  

Rev. J. W. Greer was founder and first Pastor. According to the minutes of the Fifty Sevevth Session of the African Methodist Episcopal Church held at Quinn Chapel AME in Paris, TN. from November 7th-11th, 1928, Greer Chapel was classified as a mission of the South Memphis District with a mailing address of R.F.D. 3, BOX 521, Memphis, TN.  The first building was used until 1934 when Rev. J. L. Scott began construction on a second building; however he was transferred befored it's completion.  Rev. Greer who was reassigned as Pastor finished the construction. The third and present Scantuary was constructed under the leadership of Rev. James P. Blackmore. 

The church received it's name due to the insight of a founding member, Sis. Mollie Hall, who felt the church should be named in honor of Rev. J. W. Greer.  Among the founders were the following: Among the founders were the following: Rev. and Mrs. J. W. Greer, Rev. Sammy Sneed, Bro. Jordan Douglass, Bro. William Parker, Bro. Ed Jones, Sis. Mollie Hall and Sis. Ellen Williams.

The church prospered from the beginning as one of the leading churches in the Douglass Community with Rev. J. W. Greer as pastor and Bro. William Parker as Superintendent of the Sunday School.  Another one of our outstanding Sunday School Superintendent for many years was Sis. Hattie McCall.  At one time, Greer Chapel was used as the Primary Department of the Shelby County Public School System.

Greer has prospered under the leadership of the following pastors: Rev. J. W. Greer (founder), Rev. Dickerson, Rev. Mack Young, Rev. Jesse Thompson (passed while preaching during 11:00 worship), Rev. A. L. Minor. Rev, J. L. Scott (started the second building construction), Rev. A. L. Alexander, Rev.A. D. Butler, Rev. J. R. Davey, Rev. D. A. Howard, Rev. Square Polk, Rev. J. Johnson, Rev. A. D. Brown, Rev. J. J. Cooperwood, Rev. B. F. Bradley, Rev. James Phillip Blackmore (builder of the third sanctuary), Rev. E. K. Keys (retired the church mortgage), Rev. P. W. DeLyles (a great spiritual leader and a lover of children who was our pastor for only 6 months before he passed), Rev. Sam W. Houston (pastored for 16 years and took on the task of beautifying the church inside and out), Rev. R. L. Beckett (pastored us for 20 years), Rev. James T. Shannon (pastored us for 10 years and was called home to glory prior to the 131st Session of the West Tennessee Annual Conference) and our current pastor Rev. Colleen P. Gibson (who was nurtured in Greer Chapel from a child to an adult).

Rev. Sam W. Houston was instrumental in the church purchasing new pews, piano, Communion Table and Serving set, carpets central heating and cooling systems, the Christian Flag and American Flag,started a budget system and building fund. Rev. R. L. Beckett, who followed Rev. Houston, took on the task of guiding the congregation in the completion of an annex which housed the Fellowship Hall, Office Space, Sunday School Classrooms, remodeled the interior of the church, purchased additional pews, a piano for the Fellowaship Hall, Hymnals and Bibles for the sanctuary ant two lots that were developed for parking. Beautiful stained glass windows were installed throughout the sanctuary.

 Rev. James T. Shannon guided the construction of our present day Family Life center which sit on the corner of Ash St & Chelsea Ave. This facility's crowning event was the hosting of the 130th Session of the West Tennessee Annual Conference in 2004 and lead by The First Elected Female Bishop (117th Bishop) of the African Methodist Episcopal Church; Presiding Prelate Vashti Murphy  Mckenzie.

The 131st Session of the West Tennessee Annual Conference in 2005 blessed Greer Chapel with our history making first assigned Female Pastor; Rev. Colleen P. Gibson. 

Thanks to all the Pastors and members down through the years who have maintained the excellent  tradition of Greer Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church.