History

History of Saint Paul United Methodist Church

Saint Paul Methodist Episcopal Church was organized on the fourth Sunday in February, in 1866, three years after the Emancipation Proclamation and under the leadership of the late Reverend Gilbert Brooks. It was during his administration that the first church, a white wooden frame structure, was erected on 26^th Avenue and 12^th Street. However, this building was destroyed by fire in 1888.

Located on the same site, a new brick building featuring Gothic architecture was erected under the leadership of Reverend J.C. Houston. The congregation worshipped in this building until 1921, when, under the leadership of Reverend D.L. Morgan, the Haven Institute property was purchased by Saint Paul. This property, also known as Meridian Academy, served as a private school for black students, and was operated through the African Methodist Episcopal Churches in the area. The Haven Institute property was located at 27^th Avenue and 13^th Street. This building was destroyed by fire. Hence, for approximately two years, the congregation worshipped in the chapel of the Masonic Temple which was located on 26^th Avenue and 13^th Street.

In 1939, the present building was erected under the leadership of Reverend E.A. Mayes, and was later dedicated to the Lord’s service by Bishop R.E. Jones in 1941.

In 1968, the Methodist Episcopal Churches of Mississippi merged with the Evangelical United Brethren Church. Thereafter, Saint Paul Methodist Episcopal Church became Saint Paul United Methodist Church.

Saint Paul has a rich and glorious history. Immediately following the Civil War, Saint Paul was instrumental in operating the Freedman’s Bureau School which played a pivotal role in the education of black students and black adults.

Saint Paul was instrumental in the establishment of the Carnegie Library. This historic library was built in 1912 with a grant from the Carnegie Foundation specifically for African Americans in Meridian. The ‘Colored Branch’ of the Carnegie Library, as it was called, was the educational hub of the African-American community for many years. After being in use for sixty-two years, the Carnegie library, located on the corner of 13^th Street and 28^th Avenue, closed its doors in 1974. Through the years, the Carnegie library sustained some structural and physical problems, and was demolished in 2008. The Carnegie library was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Saint Paul has always displayed a strong role in the community. It was designated as a local city landmark in November of 1990, by the Meridian City Council and the Meridian Historic Preservation Commission. Saint Paul is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Additionally, Saint Paul became a part of the Freedom Trail during the 2014 Fiftieth Year Commemoration of the Freedom Summer 1964.

Under the leadership of Rev. E. Maurice Boger, Saint Paul was recognized by the Mississippi Conference as the Meridian District Vital Church of the year, and also recognized by Discipleship Ministries as the ‘One Matters’ Church of the Year for the Mississippi Conference.

Saint Paul most proudly makes note it its history, and cherishes the memory of the highly acclaimed and world renown, Bishop L. Scot Allen. The nephew of Dr. A.L. Fielder, Sr., Bishop Allen grew up in Saint Paul’s church and later became the first African American elected Bishop in what became the United Methodist Church in 1968. As Bishop, he forged the way for African Americans in the predominately white, racially charged Southeastern Jurisdiction.

PASTORS OF SAINT PAUL

1. Rev. Gilbert Brooks, 1866-1867

2. Rev. Moses Adams, 1867-1869

3. Rev. J. Aaron Moore, 1869-1870

4. Rev. Samuel Williams, 1870-1872

5. Rev. J. Gaston, 1872-1875

6. Rev. P. Jamison, 1875-1878

7. Rev. Nathan Conner, 1878-1879

8. Rev. Moses Adams, 1879-1880

9. Rev. Gilbert Brooks, 1880-1881

10. Rev. J.W. Dunn, 1881-1883

11. Rev. J.N. Wilder, 1883-1886

12. Rev. J.C. Houston, 1886-1889

13. Rev. C.D. Payne, 1889-1892

14. Rev. I.J. Pratt, 1892-1893

15. Rev. A.J. McNair, 1893-1896

16. Rev. J. Campbell, 1896-1897

17. Rev. J.C. Hibbler, 1897-1899

18. Rev. J.C. Houston, 1899-1900

19. Rev. B.L. Crump, 1900-1902

20. Rev. A.J. McNair, 1902-1905

21. Rev. S.A. Cowan, 1903-1910

22. Rev. W.M. McMorris, 1910-1911

23. Rev. I.L. Pratt, 1911-1912

24. Rev. L.W. Price, 1912-1915

25. Rev. J.B. Brooks, 1915-1917

26. Rev. J.C. Hibbler, 1917-1921

27. Rev. D.L. Morgan, 1921-1928

28. Rev. R.N. Jones, 1928-1929

29. Rev. M.T.J. Howard, 1929-1933

30. Rev. E.A. Mayes, 1933-1944

31. Rev. C.M. Webb, 1944-1946

32. Rev. S.L. Webb, 1946-1947

33. Rev. L.E. Johnson, 1947-1951

34. Rev. Wendell P.C. Taylor, 1951-1957

35. Rev. J.D. Wheaton, 1957-1961

36. Rev. A.W. Crump, Sr., 1961-1965

37. Rev. L.A. Timmons, 1965-1967

38. Rev. S.S. Barnett, 1967-1972

39. Rev. E.L. Henry, 1972-1986

40. Rev. C.E. Appleberry, 1986-1992

41. Rev. Joe May, 1992-1995

42. Rev. Harold Robinson, 1995-1998

43. Rev. Phillip Heidelberg, 1998-2003

44. Rev. Timothy Thompson, 2003-2006

45. Rev. Ludrick Cameron, 2006-2009

46. Rev. Martha Williams, 2009-2012

47. Rev. Elbrist Mason, 2012-2015

48. Rev. Eugene Boger, 2015-Present