St. Paul (Downtown) A.M.E. Church

One of the things that I love about St. Paul A.M.E. church it was first located in the NEIGHBORHOOD on the corner of Chene and Jay. We were little girls at the time and Mr. Clarence J. Spencer was a roomer. He talked my mother into letting him take us to his church. That one visit to his church became are church. Then one Sunday as we arrived at the church some of the members were standing in front of the church. I kept hearing some of the members yelling "we are getting ready to start". I asked Mr. Spencer what are they starting". His reply was "we are moving into our new church". I remember hitting/tapping Mr. Spencer on his arm and I told him "I don't want to move I like this church". He did not say anything because everybody started walking. There were people standing on their porches and on the corners as St Paul members marched to Chene and Hunt to the new location of St.Paul A.M.E. It seemed like a long time that we stood outside before going into the church. I remember they did not have the benches they had folding chairs and it smelled different inside. Years later my mother joined the church, as well as, some of her friends. My father visit the church a few shocking times (smile). Chene and Hunt street was the new location for the people in the neighborhood to not only visit but joined St. Paul. Some are still members. I remember one girl that lived on Hunt and Chene in a yellow house joined and she was there every Sunday until they moved. I knew her brothers we all went to the same school. I think of them often. I remember the Sunday that Rev. Charleston passed out in the church. When I had my children they became members. And as I watched my children grow older I watch older members of the church pass on. I watched the feel of the church itself grow dim. I remember so much about St. Paul. I remember the Junior Church and the two pastors Rev. Holt??? and Rev. Naomi Meadows. Rev. Holt was a nice man and a lot of the kids liked him. But he soon left and formed his own church. That'a when Rev Meadows took over the Junior church. She was kinda of ruff talking and mean. One Sunday, she asked us "how many of you do not like me?". I raised my hand high and my sisters could not get home fast enough to tell my mother. I older brother yell out "you going to hell now". There are so many memories that I have of St. Paul A.M.E. church. When I pass by St. Paul I tell my son I picture her with her head down and tears coming from her eyes. As she remembers her members and as she wonders what's going to become of her. Are they going to love her or list her and not be embarrassed of her location. St. Paul A.M.E. church is not located downtown. She is located in the heart of a neighborhood. There is still a lot of history and good time to be made at St. Paul. Let's keep it our church.