Fork African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was organized on March 19, 1869.
The Quakers donated the stone building and land. Service
was held in that building until a frame building was built on May 31,
1908, under the direction of the Reverend I. T. Conquest,
pastor-in-charge. Former pastors-in-charge
who occupied that building were: v
Reverend Robinson 1910
v
Reverend Martin 1912-15 v
Reverend Barton 1916-17 v
Reverend Crump 1917-1918 v
Reverend French 1919 v
Reverend Baker 1920 v
Reverend French 1930 v
Reverend Sanders 1932-33 v
Reverend Jones 1933 v
Reverend Fantleroy 1935-39 v
Reverend Proctor 1939-40 v
Reverend J.
J. Howard 1940-42 In
preparation for World War II, the U.S. government purchased a large
tract of land on the West Side of the Penn Central Railroad tracks,
which included the land upon which our frame building was situated. Subsequently, the money received from the sale of the land was used to purchase land
on the East Side of the tracks in February, 1942. The
church was erected and dedicated on May 5, 1942 under the pastoral
leadership of the Reverend J. J. Howard who was the pastor-in-charge
until 1946. Following the Reverend J. J. Howard in the newly erected edifice were: v
Reverend N.
G. Stevenson 1946 v
Reverend Gilles 1958 v
Reverend Walter
Shawler 1958-65 v
Reverend White 1965 v
Reverend French
Myers 1966-69 v
Reverend James
S. Stanley 1971-77 v
Reverend Arvin
Pegues 1977-78 v
Reverend Cyril
O. Eastman 1978-84 v
Reverend William
Anderson 1984-87 v
Reverend Alger
Warren 1987 v
Reverend Charles
Strayhorn 1988-89 v
Reverend Maxwell
Minnis 1990 v
Reverend James
F. Patterson 1991-92 v
Reverend Samuel
W. Whittaker 1992-1998 v
Reverend Larry
L. Broussard 1998-2000 v
Rev. Dr. William
L. Burton, Jr. 2000-2002 v
Rev. Dr. Wilmer
T. Frazier, Jr. 2002-Present In 1967, Fork African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was renamed St. John African Methodist
Episcopal Zion Church. On October 11, 1980, remodeling work began. We were sometimes met with frustration due to vandals who seemed bent on tearing down at night the work
that had taken place during the day. Although it was not easy, we continued to
press on to see the completion of this project. With
the help of God and many hours of prayer, we were victorious, and able
to record the completion date of June 11, 1983 as another milestone in
the life of St. A.M.E. Zion Church. On May 20, 1984, the edifice was
re-dedicated under the leadership of the Reverend Cyril O. Eastman. Since
that glorious spring day in May of 1984, St. John African Methodist
Episcopal Zion Church has been the flock of seven additional shepherds
and has overcome obstacles seen and unseen. St. John A.M.E. Zion Church has arisen in the face of adversary to stand tall and firmly rooted on the
biblical foundation from whence it came. The historical richness and its believed
role on the Underground Railroad lend itself to the integrity of this vital branch of Zion.
The St. John A.M.E. Zion Church pastor, officers and members are dedicated to our purpose: "To lift the name of Jesus up, that all men may be drawn unto Him." St. John African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church is 134 years old, and the Lord is not through with us yet. Therefore, like a tree planted by the water, it has not, it cannot, it shall not be moved.
