Saint Paul Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Saint Paul Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, right here in Orange County. Now, before there was ever a building, before there was ever a deed or a cornerstone or a single pew, there was just people. An African American congregation gathering in homes, worshipping the way folks do when the faith is bigger than the four walls available to hold it.

They met where they could. And for a while, that was enough. But congregations have a way of growing into something more permanent.

And so, in 1894, five men made it official. Church trustees Josiah Hardin, William Holmes, Peter Rogers, Julius Sanders, and Silas Hardin acquired a town lot, right here, for the express purpose of building a church. That same year, a wood frame sanctuary went up, and the congregation formally organized under the name Saint Paul Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

Now, local tradition holds that they chose that name, Saint Paul, on account of his historically significant missionary undertakings. There is something fitting about that. A congregation that had already been doing the work, quietly, in borrowed spaces, naming themselves after a man who carried his faith across the known world.

That wood frame building served them. And then, in 1945, led by the Reverend E. A.

Strong, a new wood frame church building was constructed right here on this same ground. The congregation kept growing. Membership kept climbing.

And in 1969, they built a new brick sanctuary at this site. Brick. The kind of building that says we are here, and we intend to stay.

They weren't done. In 1989, a new parsonage was purchased. And then in 1989 and 1990, the congregation purchased two adjoining lots, setting aside ground for future expansion.

Planning ahead, the way people do when they believe tomorrow is worth investing in. Today, that investment shows up in the programs this congregation runs. A Sunday School teaching program.

Bible study. Christian youth fellowship. Young adult fellowship.

And their missionary society, which includes the Annie Rose Circle, the Willie Green Circle, and the Youth Circle, all of it aimed at providing religious guidance for the community. Started in someone's living room. Built into brick.

Still growing. That's the kind of story that doesn't need any embellishment at all.

What the marker says

This African American congregation held informal worship services in homes and later in a nearby building before church trustees Josiah Hardin, William Holmes, Peter Rogers, Julius Sanders, and Silas Hardin acquired a town lot here for church building purposes in 1894. That year a wood frame sanctuary was built and the congregation formally organized as the Saint Paul Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. According to local tradition, the congregation chose to name their church for Saint Paul because of his historically significant missionary undertakings. Led by the Rev. E. A. Strong, a new wood frame church building was constructed here in 1945. Growth in the congregation's membership prompted the building of a new brick sanctuary at this site in 1969. A new parsonage was purchased in 1989, and in 1989-90 the congregation purchased two adjoining lots for future expansion purposes. The congregation sponsors several church programs including a Sunday School teaching program, Bible study, Christian youth fellowship and young adult fellowship. Its missionary society, which includes the Annie Rose Circle, Willie Green Circle, and Youth Circle, provides religious guidance for the community.