The African Parish House Quilters was founded by the late Barbara Holt Payne and Deborah E. (Mullens) Pinckney under the tutelage of the late Wyrelene Mays. This group had its first meeting at the African Parish House, 189 N. 20th Street, on May 17, 1997, with subsequent meeting held on the 3rd Saturday of the month. The group is the result of the union of two visions. Barbara was inspired by the work of Carolyn Mazloomi and her Women of Color Quilters Network and wanted to start a group in Columbus. Deborah wanted to use her interest in quilting as a means of giving back to the community, as part of the outreach of the now defunct Hebron Baptist Church, a house church which met in the African Parish House. This church was under the leadership of Pastor William¬ Amanze M. Pinckney.

In February 1997 Mrs. Payne and Mrs. Mays held a quilting demonstration at the MLK branch of the library at 1600 E. Long Street introducing participants to yo-yo quilting. Deborah attended this demo and had the opportunity to share with them her desire to preserve the art of quilting relative to the historical significance in the African American community. Consequently, Barbara and Deborah came together to start the African Parish House Quilters. The name came about as a result of the meeting where those in attendance voted to have this group name, since this is where meetings were being held. The African Parish House got its name, because it was the former parsonage for pastors of the Mt. Vernon A.M.E. Church.