SAINT PAUL CHURCH HISTORY
Prior to the formalization of establishing what is now known as the Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, a group of men and women not wanting to continue worshiping as Episcopalians decided to gather at each other’s home and have prayer meetings. Out of these meetings came what was called the “A.M.E. Church.” Many of the meetings were held at the home of Edward and Rebecca Johnson. Mr. Johnson served as the lay reader while Mrs. Johnson held prayer meetings every day at 12 noon for everyone who would come. The number in attendance began to grow making it necessary to look for a permanent place of worship. Then, on the first day of December 1914 a group of five men, Thomas P. Dean, Nat Sampson, Jeffery Cravatt, Edward Johnson and John Oliver, who were the trustees of the church, took active participation in the execution of the deed for a house located at 4th Court and 19th Street in Miami. After much discussion over a name for the house that would become the church, Mrs. Johnson suggested that the church be named after Paul in the Bible. The house then became known as Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church. Serving as the first Pastor was Rev. G. A. Roundtree who served the congregation faithfully until 1925. History reveals that the torch was passed on to many who became great leaders in the A.M.E. Church. Previous pastors include: Rev. Andrew J. Newton, Rev. Savage, Rev. J. B. Blacknell, Rev. P. J. Walker, Rev. M.P. Chappel, Rev. J. H. Young, Rev. J. D. Kennedy, Rev. A.P. Postell, Rev. H.L. Pinkney, Rev. J.B. Epperson, Rev. R.A. Jackson, Rev. R. J. Blaine, Rev. F. H. Sneed, Rev. J.D. Washington, Rev. M. J. Fayson, Rev. T. C. Kelly, Jr. Rev. S.L. Gay, Rev. Vincent F. Mitchell and Rev. Michael K. Bouie. For years, the membership of Saint Paul planned and worked towards the day when there would stand somewhere in the City of Miami, a church that would not only be lofty and beautiful, but so designed and constructed to properly and conveniently facilitate the practices of African Methodism. In 1961, the church and property located at 4th Court and 19th Street were purchased by Urban Renewal. Rev. M. J. Fayson, Pastor at that time, and the church lead- ers began to search for a new church site. It was in May of 1962, that the present site was purchased from Lakeview Methodist Church. The Trustees felt this move was worth- while, because of the size of the land and the location of the site. They and the congregation knew from the very beginning that the church already erected on the land was not appropriate for their service, The church was not large enough, nor was it so arranged to accommodate the entry of the choir, pulpit participants or the serving of the celebration of the Holy Communion.
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online