ST.PETER'S HISTORY
As America’s fabric was being woven so were seeds being sown for the African Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1797, Richard Allen and Absolom Jones walked out in protest of racial segregation, particularly in the house of worship. This took place in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia. The African Methodist Episcopal Church and Mother Bethel were born.
March 1880 a group of earnest, far-sighted Christian men and women met for the purpose of establishing another African Methodist Episcopal worship site. At the time, there was only one in Minneapolis, St. James A.M.E. Rev. Newton, the Pastor of St. James A.M.E. Church was very cooperative in this work.
After establishing a mission which was named ”Neal Union Mission”. The congregation was anxious for regular worship services and petitioned the Bishop of the district, Rt. Rev. A.W.Wayman . He sent Rev. Ward and he served them well. The mission began to grow and new accommodations were found at 110 Washington Avenue. Thus St. Peter’s African Methodist Episcopal Church was established.
The Charter Members were: Mesdames: Mary Bolden, Mattie Neal, Katie Smith, Addie Glenn, Priscilla Lewis, Lizzie Carlyle, Minerva E. Barnett. Misses: Eliza and Maggie Freeman, Jennie Hilyer, Emzella Mitchell, Mr. John Neal, Mr. Mrs Hector Hayes. Many others were helpful as well.
Many settings for worship were acquired as the church grew spiritually and in numbers. The second pastor was Rev. J. C. Plummer. The finance of the church was greatly enhanced by the work of the Mission Sewing Circle. First Trustees were: John Neal, Emzella Mitchell, Charles Carter, R.C. Marshall and Mr. Harthore. First Stewards were:
Robert Regan, C.Parrish and Henry Maxie.
Finally in 1888, the site at 22nd Street and Washington Ave. So. was dedicated as St. Peter’s A.M.E. Church.
St. Peter’s prospered and was well attended until the year 1893 when fire claimed the structure and one life. Rev. W. Sampson Brooks undertook the rebuilding of the church. Many sites became temporary sites for service where the church served the needs of the community. Among which were : Minneapolis Sunday Forum, Missionary Society, the Helping Hand, Willing Workers and others.
Rev. Thomas B. Stovall became pastor in 1914. Under his leadership, the parsonage was purchased; a new heating plant installed, Sunday School was revised. Rev. Stovall distinguished himself having served five years. He later became presiding Elder of the St. Paul District.
St. Peter’s suffered its’ second disaster and burned down in 1951. Under Rev. Martin Luther Simmons, an upstanding and energetic young man, a beautiful new facility was planned and built. Under his leadership hundreds of persons were led to Christ, property valued at $250,000.00 was acquired. Many areas in the community were used for worship as the new site at 41st and 4th avenue was being built. In July,1963 under Rev. Lovell Johnson, the mortgage for the new building was paid off. In 1967,under the pastorship of Rev. Johnson and succeeding him, Rev. Henderson Davis and Rev. Carl Fuqua, the design and development for the education unit came into being. Mr. Lonnie Leverette, Lou Zachary, Bill Fraction , and Jay Tyson were the new building fund committee. The faithfulness of members and Pastors have prayed and worked to bring St. Peter’s A.M.E. Church to its present stance in the community.
As the needs of our community continually change we move forward with commitment to meet those needs under the Leadership of Pastor Carla Mitchell.
Our Motto:
God our Father, Christ our Redeemer, the Holy Spirit our Comforter, Humankind our Family
As America’s fabric was being woven so were seeds being sown for the African Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1797, Richard Allen and Absolom Jones walked out in protest of racial segregation, particularly in the house of worship. This took place in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia. The African Methodist Episcopal Church and Mother Bethel were born.
March 1880 a group of earnest, far-sighted Christian men and women met for the purpose of establishing another African Methodist Episcopal worship site. At the time, there was only one in Minneapolis, St. James A.M.E. Rev. Newton, the Pastor of St. James A.M.E. Church was very cooperative in this work.
After establishing a mission which was named ”Neal Union Mission”. The congregation was anxious for regular worship services and petitioned the Bishop of the district, Rt. Rev. A.W.Wayman . He sent Rev. Ward and he served them well. The mission began to grow and new accommodations were found at 110 Washington Avenue. Thus St. Peter’s African Methodist Episcopal Church was established.
The Charter Members were: Mesdames: Mary Bolden, Mattie Neal, Katie Smith, Addie Glenn, Priscilla Lewis, Lizzie Carlyle, Minerva E. Barnett. Misses: Eliza and Maggie Freeman, Jennie Hilyer, Emzella Mitchell, Mr. John Neal, Mr. Mrs Hector Hayes. Many others were helpful as well.
Many settings for worship were acquired as the church grew spiritually and in numbers. The second pastor was Rev. J. C. Plummer. The finance of the church was greatly enhanced by the work of the Mission Sewing Circle. First Trustees were: John Neal, Emzella Mitchell, Charles Carter, R.C. Marshall and Mr. Harthore. First Stewards were:
Robert Regan, C.Parrish and Henry Maxie.
Finally in 1888, the site at 22nd Street and Washington Ave. So. was dedicated as St. Peter’s A.M.E. Church.
St. Peter’s prospered and was well attended until the year 1893 when fire claimed the structure and one life. Rev. W. Sampson Brooks undertook the rebuilding of the church. Many sites became temporary sites for service where the church served the needs of the community. Among which were : Minneapolis Sunday Forum, Missionary Society, the Helping Hand, Willing Workers and others.
Rev. Thomas B. Stovall became pastor in 1914. Under his leadership, the parsonage was purchased; a new heating plant installed, Sunday School was revised. Rev. Stovall distinguished himself having served five years. He later became presiding Elder of the St. Paul District.
St. Peter’s suffered its’ second disaster and burned down in 1951. Under Rev. Martin Luther Simmons, an upstanding and energetic young man, a beautiful new facility was planned and built. Under his leadership hundreds of persons were led to Christ, property valued at $250,000.00 was acquired. Many areas in the community were used for worship as the new site at 41st and 4th avenue was being built. In July,1963 under Rev. Lovell Johnson, the mortgage for the new building was paid off. In 1967,under the pastorship of Rev. Johnson and succeeding him, Rev. Henderson Davis and Rev. Carl Fuqua, the design and development for the education unit came into being. Mr. Lonnie Leverette, Lou Zachary, Bill Fraction , and Jay Tyson were the new building fund committee. The faithfulness of members and Pastors have prayed and worked to bring St. Peter’s A.M.E. Church to its present stance in the community.
As the needs of our community continually change we move forward with commitment to meet those needs under the Leadership of Pastor Carla Mitchell.
Our Motto:
God our Father, Christ our Redeemer, the Holy Spirit our Comforter, Humankind our Family