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| 401 East 41st St., Minneapolis, MN 55409 (612) 825-9750 |
| CHURCH HISTORY AND INFORMATION |
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"One stormy night in March" in the year of our Lord 1880, a
little band of Christians, Namely, Rev. C. W. Newton, John L.
Neal, Emzella Mitchel, Elize Freeman, Maggie Freeman, Addie Glen,
Katie Smith, Mary Bolden, Priscilla Lewis, and Minerva E.
Barnett, all met at the home of Mrs. Mary Boden, 1819 5th Avenue
South, Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the purpose of organizing a
religious body. Elder Iresvan presided.
At that time there was only the one A.M.E. church in Minneapolis-ST. James A.M.E. Church, located on the east side of the Mississippi river. That part of the river was known as St Anthony. The church was inconveniently located for many younger group of people to attend. St. Anthony residents were of the opinion that the city would grow in a southward direction. It is said the group was earnest and far-sighted men and women. Rev. Newton, the Pastor of St. James A.M.E. Church, was very cooperative, feeling that a new church on this side of the river would be an addition to the welfare of the city rather than a hinderance to his work. Therefore, St. Peter's African Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in 1880 as the Neal Union Mission. The congregation secured a place for worship known as Heaton's Hall on the corner of Washington and Nicollet Avenue. T Services were held in the evening with Rev. Newton helping for a short time. The congregation was anxious for regular worship services and petitioned the Bishop of the district, Rt. Rev. A. W. Wayman, who sent Rev. Ward. The church grew significantly over a two month period, therefore, it was decided that more spacious accomodations were needed. New accomodations were found at 110 Washington Avenue. At this time the church was named St. Peters African Methodist Episcopal church. The Charter Members were: Mesdames, Mary Bolden, Mattie Neal, Katie Smith, Addie Glen, Priscilla Lewis, Lizzie Carlyle and Minerva E. Barnett; Misses Eliza and Maggie Freeman, Jennie Hilyer, Emzella Mitchell, Mr. John Neal and Mr. and Mrs. Hector Hayes. The second Pastor of the church was Rev. J. C. Plummer. The congregation continued to experience sigificant growth and the finances of the church grew also due to the Mission Sewing Circle. The first Trustees were: John Neal, Emzella Mitchell, Charles Carter, R. C. Marshall and Bro. Harthore. The first Stewards were: Robert Regan, C. Parrish and Henry Maxie. A church facility was purchased during this time from a German Methodist congregation which was lost in 1887 due to default of payments. But, with renewed courage, the women of the church stood firm. After the lost the church property, services were then held in Freyer Hall att 5051/2 Washington Avenue South. The Hall was located on the third floor and there was no elevator. The facility was a very large hall and could accommodate many people. In fact, it had more space than we have in the present church. It was nearly always filled to capacity. In many cases people were all employed and contributed freely at each and every service. Due to high attendance during services, a site was picked for a new church facility to be builted. A lot was purchased at 915 East 22nd Street. The church was built and named St. Peter's A.M.E., with the mother church being St. James. The Pastor was Rev. L. H. Reynolds. St. Peter's was dedicated in the year 1888. The new church was a beautiful structure. The ceiling was carried way up to a point along with the rafters. It was about 31/2 to 4 stories high and decorated with massive beams handcarved and rub-finished like a piano. Each beam curled out at the topmost ends in the center forming a point where hung a most beautiful chandelier containing myraids of lights and many glass prisms. It was the most beautiful site with stained glass and massive memorial windows. Members who worked hard to make this happen were: James A. Cunningham, George Turner, Atonia Ellis, Lizzie Burke,and the Mitchell family (Sally Williams, Mattie Thompson, and Ms. Mattie B. Cannon.). The church prospered and was well attended until about the year 1893. One night the church caught fire and burned to the ground. After the fire, services were held in the old courthouse at the corner of 4th street and 8th Avenue South during the rebuilding of the new church. The janitor, Bro. Davis Robert Reese was allowed to use the church as sleeping quarters in the basement. He perished in the flames before anyone knew that the church was on fire. Services were held inthe old courthouse at the corner of 4th Street and 8th Avenue South after the fire. Rev. J. W. Higgins was the Pastor during this period, however he was replaced during this period by Rev. W. Sampson Brooks in 1897 who's administration oversaw the building of the new church. Rev. Brooks was later named a bishop and sailed to Africa and established an industrial school in Liberia. Rev Brooks also published a book entitled "What a Black Man Saw in a White Man's Country.". Rev. Thomas B. Stovall became pastor in 1914. Under his leadership, the first parsonage was purchased; a new heating plant installed; electricity was installed; chimney and other repairs made; the Sunday School was revised. Rev. Stovall later became presiding Elder of the St. Paul District. During this period the church exerted signifant influence within the community. The church contribute to the community spiritual comfort and welfare of our citizens- how it took to its bosom and nurturing of young men and womern; fostered many activities of uplifting and helpful influence such as the mens club, the Minneapolis Sunday Forum, which were both organized in the church as well as the Missionary Society, the Helping Hand, Christian Endeavor and Willing Workers and other church organizations; how the hundreds of men and women both young and old who have gone forth from St. Peter's Church elsewhere to distant parts of the country and become leaders in various ways, including the ministry. In 1951, the church had it second disaster and burned down. The church was rebuilt at the corner of 41st and 4th Avenue, where the building stands today. During the construction of the current building the congregation met for worship in the auditorium at Bryant Junior High School and the auditorium at Central Senior High School. The construction was completed in 1953 and the mortgage was retired in 1963. In 1968, the education facility was completed. Rev. Martin Luther Simmons was pastor at the time. Under Rev. Simmons matchless leadership, St. Peter's grew from a small struggling congregation on 22nd Street and Elliott to the most beautif houses of worship to be found in our connection. He brought "Hundreds of persons to Christ, scores were baptized, property valued at the time $250,000 was acquired. In 1967, under the pastorship of Rev. Lovell Johnson and succeeding him, Henderson Davis and Carl Fupua, the design and development for the addition of the education facility came into being. The new facility was completed and dedicated on March 31, 1968 for a cost of $234,000. Some the individuals behind the building of the Educational building was Lonnie Leverette, Lou Zachary, Bill Fraction, and Jay Tyson. As we mark another milestone in the history of St. Peter's, lets not forget others who contributed to the church success. Ministries of Reverends T. B. Stovall, W. E. Guy, Caryle F. Steward, A. J. Irvine, T. A. Redding, Henderson Davis, John Alexander, Martin L. Simmons, Lovell Johnson, J. J. Evans, Carl Faqua, A. D. Evans, E. A. Hawkins, Artic Harris, R. H. Coleman, and current minister, Archie L. Criglar, Sr. Each minister has provided leadership in their time, meeting whatever crises there were and forging another link in the chain of that century and this one. The contribution of other men and women must be recalled: Curtis Chivers, Fred Parkinson, Eddie Boyd, Ed Brown, James Ward, Archie Givens, Sr., F. Hammonds, Shely Cox, Cliff Cunningham, John Cook, A. L. Brown, Harlan Russell, Sr., Guy Evans, William Aubrey, Harvey Pittman, Sr., Jed Crews, George Nixon, Walter Glen, Jake Collins, John and Squire Neal, Brother Payne, Mason Lewis, James Lewis, Webb and Tom Stovall, Raymond Canon, William Maden, Lonnie Leverette, Tim Jones, E. W. Bowman, Sr., Leonard Maddon, A. B. Cassius, and others. Also remember Ma Glover, Mother Adelle Howell, Sister Fannie P. Lewis, Blanche Mayes, Edith Bowman, Alice Stewart, Sister Florence Daniels, Cora Griffins, Sister Susie Allen, Julie McConico, Sister Parkinson, Anna Graham, Sister Elizabeth Taylor, Dorothy Leverette, Viola Madden, Alice Wilson, Jesse Bonner, Lorraine Chivers, Bessie Lewis, Alice Morgan, Mamie Uptegrove, Alice Brown, Marie Reddick, Josephine Escue, Wreatha Maxwell, and the list can go on and on. The church will continue to serve the people of the Minneapolis and St. Paul areas and make the necessary changes to maintain itself in the everchanging society. |
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