Brown Hill African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was organized in 1870 by a faithful group of African American Christians who desired a permanent place to worship, grow in faith, and establish a spiritual community in the Browns Hill area of what is now Locust, North Carolina.

Historical records indicate that the property associated with Brown Hill had been used as a place of Methodist worship even before the Civil War. A Methodist Protestant congregation known as Brown’s Hill is believed to have existed in the area as early as 1864. The surrounding property consisted largely of farmland worked by local farmers throughout the week. According to church tradition, conversations about establishing a permanent place of worship occurred on numerous occasions, and by 1870 a group of African American believers had begun gathering at the site. These gatherings marked the beginning of the congregation that would become Brown Hill A.M.E. Zion Church.

Records concerning Henry and Sarah Love indicate that they were closely connected to the land and the early development of the congregation. Their contributions, along with those of other faithful families in the community, helped establish the foundation upon which Brown Hill was built.

According to the historical account of Elsia Morgan Love, the first Brown Hill Church was formally established in 1874, when a group of African American Christians met and agreed upon a permanent place of worship. Among the early church leaders were Wesley Morgan, Solomon Reed, Michael Barnhardt, Adam Morgan, Henry Love, and Ephraim Green, several of whom would later serve as trustees of the church.

On October 27, 1874, the congregation purchased approximately nine and one-fourth acres of land known as the Brown Hill Church property for $40.00. The deed named Michael Barnhardt, Wesley Morgan, Adam Morgan, Henry Love, and Solomon Reed among those associated with the purchase. The property is believed to have included an older, crude worship structure, possibly a bush arbor, where the early congregation gathered for worship.

The deed was officially registered on August 18, 1877, and recorded on page 459 of Book No. 11 in the Register of Deeds Office at the Stanly County Courthouse in Albemarle, North Carolina. The trustees officially gave the congregation the name “Brown Hill.”

Historical accounts also indicate that in 1877, at the close of the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War, African American members associated with Love Grove Methodist Episcopal Church in Locust, North Carolina, now Love Grove United Methodist Church, formed a separate congregation. These believers affiliated themselves with the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, strengthening the identity and denominational connection of the Brown Hill congregation. During this period, worship services were sometimes held beneath a tent as the growing congregation worked toward establishing a more permanent church home.

For a number of years, the congregation worshiped in its original modest structure. Under the leadership of Brown Hill's first pastor, Reverend H. C. Chambers, the members recognized the need for a larger and more accommodating place of worship. Through faith, sacrifice, hard work, and God's provision, a new church building became a reality in 1888.

Brown Hill continued to grow spiritually and became an important center of worship, fellowship, Christian education, and community life. An 1895 newspaper account described a joyful children's celebration held at Brown Hill that attracted people from throughout the surrounding community. The occasion included preaching, congregational singing, music provided by a local cornet band, fellowship meals, and fundraising activities. This early account illustrates the strong community presence and welcoming spirit that have characterized Brown Hill throughout its history.

As part of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Brown Hill was originally connected with the Wadesboro-Monroe District of the West Central North Carolina Conference. During the 1929 Annual Conference, the Brown Hill/Ebenezer Circuit was transferred to the Concord District of the West Central North Carolina Conference.

Another significant milestone occurred during the 1990 Annual Conference, when the Brown Hill Circuit was separated and Brown Hill became a station church, marking a new chapter in the congregation's growth and ministry.

The historic Brown Hill A.M.E. Zion Church Cemetery also stands as a lasting testimony to the generations of families and faithful members who helped build and sustain the church. Among those memorialized are members and descendants of the Love family and many other individuals whose prayers, sacrifices, leadership, and service contributed to the enduring legacy of Brown Hill.

For more than 150 years, Brown Hill A.M.E. Zion Church has remained a beacon of faith in the Locust community. From humble gatherings on rural farmland and worship beneath a bush arbor or tent to the establishment of a thriving A.M.E. Zion congregation, Brown Hill's history is a testimony to the faithfulness of God and the perseverance of His people.

Today, Brown Hill continues to honor the vision of its founders and the legacy of the generations who came before while looking faithfully toward the future. The congregation remains committed to proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, developing disciples, strengthening families, providing Christian education and fellowship, and serving the surrounding community through faithful Christian ministry.

The story of Brown Hill A.M.E. Zion Church is more than the history of a building or a parcel of land. It is the story of a people whose faith, determination, sacrifice, and love for God established a spiritual legacy that continues from generation to generation.