About Us
The History of Greater St. Paul CME Church
From the writings of Mrs. Catherine L. Vaughans
After slavery, our ancestors were allowed to worship with the white congregation of Bethlehem Methodist Church. That church still stands today on Tin Mill Road near Dolomite, AL. But, they had to sit in the balcony or some other area that was designated for them. Becoming tired of this method of worship, they decided to form their own churches and organized several small groups called circuits.
In 1870, these circuits came together and formed the first St. Paul, located in Old Jonesboro. Two of the noted bishops of that time were Rev. J.A. Beebe and Rev. L.H. Holsey.
In 1887, track was being laid for the L&N Railroad, and the surveyors ran the line directly through the church. So the church had to move and selected a site on 6th Avenue and 14th Street and remained there until 1947.
Rev. J. W. Bonner was the pastor when the congregation decided to move from 6th Ave. and 14th Street to 10th Avenue and 17th Street. The members then built a parsonage. After much hard work and sacrifice, the sanctuary was completed and dedicated in 1954. The columns that once graced the front of the church were donated by the Stockham Memorial Methodist Church when it was dismantled.
After 1967, under the leadership of Rev. W.W. Thomas, the church completed an extensive remodeling project and all remodeling debts were liquidated by the spring of 1979. During this period of growth, the church’s name was changed to GREATER St. Paul.
Rev. Leon F. Parker, III was pastor when, on Sunday, November 29th, 2015, the church was severely damaged by fire and the congregation was displaced until Sunday, December 13, 2015.
Porter Chapel Cme Church
As recalled by Mrs. Annie E. Bell and Mrs. Eula Martin
According to oral testimonials of two of Porter’s oldest members, Mrs. Annie E. Bell and Mrs. Eula Martin, the church was formed in 1932, though the first official written documents are dated in 1935.
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The cornerstone of the church states that the first pastor was Rev. W. B. Cooper and that the church was founded November 24, 1934. The Presiding Bishop was Rev. Henry Porter - for whom the church was named.
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​Records indicate that Porter Chapel was a seed congregation from a larger church - St. Paul. The driving inspiration for the members to build a new church was to have one in their community so they would not have to walk the miles through white neighborhoods to attend church. Traveling through those communities subjected the members to many atrocities ranging from verbal harassment to actual physical attacks.
Throughout its existence, there have been five locations in which Porter Chapel members have worshipped. The first was in the old Levert’s Cleaning building on 24th St. and 12th Ave. with a subsequent move to 12th Ave. and 26th Street. After the church was destroyed by a tornado in May 1959, the church had 2 temporary locations until in 1964, under the leadership of Rev. Nelson, the trustees of the church - Mr. Alvin Holston, Mr. Freeman Kimber, Mr. Walter Lewis, Mr. Nathaniel Pierce, Sr., and Mr. John Wilson - negotiated the purchase of the lot on the corner of 10th Avenue and 27th Street. The congregation continued to display concern for its immediate community and operating as a family church.
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Rev. Norman Dill, Jr was pastor when, on Thursday, January 13, 2011 around 8 p.m., a fire broke out and caused heavy damage to the fellowship hall and smoke and water damage to the sanctuary. The congregation was displaced until Sunday, December 13, 2015.
