St. Paul AME to celebrate 150 years

LIMA - The oldest black church in Lima is celebrating a big anniversary next weekend.

St. Paul AME Church will celebrate its 150th anniversary with three days of events, beginning Friday.

The church was started by a group of people who met in their homes in 1858, said Joyce Garrett, a church member who is on the celebration committee. St. Paul was part of the Carthagena circuit, sharing a pastor who would travel among churches in the area in the Methodist tradition.

Church members pooled their funds and bought a building in the 600 block of West Spring Street for the church, the first building of St. Paul. Later, they bought a church at South Elizabeth and Spring from a group of Presbyterians. In 1917, members built the current church building on West Spring Street.

The denomination itself - AME stands for African Methodist Episcopal - was founded in 1816 by Richard Allen, Garrett said. Allen was a slave in the state of Delaware who bought his freedom. He befriended a man named Absalom Jones, also a slave who had purchased his freedom.

An abolitionist, Allen followed the Methodist Episcopal church until trouble arose over his race. He branched out on his own and founded the AME church, which Garrett was quick to explain welcomes all races.

Jones also became a pastor, the first black Episcopal priest. Allen and Jones were both involved in the formation of the Free African Society, a non-denominational group that helped with everything from teaching morality to hands-on help in a yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia in the late 1700s.

"They never disagreed. They were good friends," Garrett said, explaining that each attended the other's ordination.

In Lima, St. Paul AME Church now has about 75 members, Garrett said. Renovations are planned to restore the sanctuary to its original look, removing "modern" paneling and the like.

Garrett said although the church is small, she wouldn't think of going anywhere else.

"I guess I've always loved the people in this church. It's always been warm to me," she said.

Through the years, she has been involved in groups. One that stands out was the JOY Girls, she said. The name stands for Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last.

"It's the only church I've known. It's home to me," she said.

What: St. Paul AME Church 150th anniversary celebration

When: Friday through Oct. 5

Friday

Church

7 p.m.: Concert with choirs and soloists from the community

Saturday

Bradfield Community Center, 550 S. Collett St.

5:30 p.m.: Doors open for dinner at 6 p.m., with former pastor the Rev. Dr. James H. McLemore, a history presentation, and music by former church member LaJoyce Daniel Cain. Tickets are $15. Call 419-222-1218 to make reservations by Tuesday.

Sunday

Church

10:45 a.m.: Church service with historic interpretation of a conversation between Richard Allen, church founder, and his friend Absalom Jones. A carry-in dinner will follow.

• St. Paul AME Church is located at 1103 W. Spring St. The current pastor is the Rev. Edward L. Butler.