Members of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Meridian are celebrating 150 years of service, but the community has a focus on its future as much as its past.

The church was organized in February 1866, three years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed and just six years after the city of Meridian was established. It is believed to be the first African-American United Methodist Church in Lauderdale County.

The Rev. Eugene Boger, the church’s pastor, came to St. Paul a little over a year ago. Boger said he’s excited to be part of the church and broader community.

“For me it is exciting, because part of the research that became really important to me in seminary, and what I am looking forward to engaging in further studies, is the impact the black churches had in the South,” Boger said. “The civil rights movement, and the impact of the civil rights movement largely started in churches, schools, our historic black colleges and universities. All these entities were birthed out of the black church.

“Even with some of the challenges that our churches are having right now, there still is a spirit in the black church I believe is so powerful. I am hoping to recover the past of it so we can rekindle that fire, to continue to make an impact and change lives.”

“We hope to be a resource for black Methodism in the south, not to the exclusion of of any of the other United Methodist churches, but because of the age and how significant it was for this church to be established, and still be in existence 150 years,” Boger said. “The reason behind it, it’s important for persons who are looking to get information about the black United Methodists, here in Mississippi particularly.”

Retired attorney Syria Sturdivant is a lifelong member of the church. She said members contribute to the community in many ways.

“This church has been a stalwart in this community for so many years,” Sturdivant said, “I myself have held community forums here at the church. St. Paul has been very active in the community over the years. We have had many young people who were members of this church to go on to greater heights.”

Looking ahead, Boger said the future for St. Paul looks bright. He hopes to use the church to cultivate the whole family spiritually.

“We are looking to target families that have youth, and not just single out the young people, but their parents as well,” Boger said. “Let’s start to impact the homes, and be a place where parents can come and bring their children. That’s where we are trying to position ourselves for the next 150 years.”

The church’s 150th anniversary celebration continues from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday with an open house and meditation at the church. At 6 p.m., a banquet will be held at the Tommy Dulaney Center with attorney Constance Slaughter-Harvey as the guest speaker.

Tickets for the banquet are $35 and can be purchased in advance or at the door. Tickets can be purchased from any church member or by calling 601-482-3753.

The anniversary worship service will begin at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, with former pastor Rev. Joe May as guest speaker. Also participating in the service will be former pastors Rev. Harold Robinson, and Rev. E.L. Henry.

Lunch will be served immediately following morning services.

The History of Saint Paul United Methodist Church

The first church, under the leadership of Reverend Gilbert Brooks, was a white wooden frame structure erected on 26th Avenue and 12th Street. 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 Rev. 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 the 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 27th Avenue and 13th Street. This building was also destroyed by fire. Hence, for approximately two years, the congregation worshipped in the chapel of the Masonic Temple which was located on 26th Avenue and 13th Street.

In 1968, the Methodist Episcopal Churches of Mississippi merged with the Evangelical United Brethren. 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 also 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 then 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 13th Street and 28th Avenue, closed its doors in 1974. Through the years, the Carnegie Library sustained some structural and physical problems, and was demolished in 2006. The Carnegie Library was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Saint Paul has always display a strong role in the community. It was designated as a local city landmark in November of 1990, by the Meridian City of 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 Freedom Summer 1964.

Pastors

• Rev. Gilbert Brooks, 1866-1867

• Rev. Moses Adams, 1867-1869

• Rev. J. Aaron Moore, 1869-1870

• Rev. Samuel Williams, 1870-1872

• Rev. J. Gaston, 1872-1875

• Rev. P. Jamison, 1875-1878

• Rev. Nathan Conner, 1878-1879

• Rev. Moses Adams, 1879-1880

• Rev. Gilbert Brooks, 1880-1881

• Rev. J.W. Dunn, 1881-1883

• Rev. J.N. Wilder, 1883-1886

• Rev. J.C. Houston, 1886-1889

• Rev. C.D. Payne, 1889-1892

• Rev. I.J. Pratt, 1892-1893

• Rev. A.J. McNair, 1893-1896

• Rev. J. Campbell, 1896-1897

• Rev. J.C. Hibbler, 1897-1899

• Rev. J.C. Houston, 1899-1900

• Rev. B.L. Crump, 1900-1902

• Rev. A.J. McNair, 1902-1905

• Rev. S.A. Cowan, 1903-1910

• Rev. W.M. McMorris, 1910-1911

• Rev. I.L. Pratt, 1911-1912

• Rev. L.W. Price, 1912-1915

• Rev. J.B. Brooks, 1915-1917

• Rev. J.C. Hibbler, 1917-1921

• Rev. D.L. Morgan, 1921-1928

• Rev. R.N. Jones, 1928-1929

• Rev. M.T.J. Howard, 1929-1933

• Rev. E.A. Mayes, 1933-1944

• Rev. C.M. Webb, 1944-1946

• Rev. S.L. Webb, 1946-1947

• Rev. L.E. Johnson, 1947-1951

• Rev. Wendell P.C. Taylor, 1951-1957

• Rev. J.D. Wheaton, 1957-1961

• Rev. A.W. Crump, Sr., 1961-1965

• Rev. L.A. Timmons, 1965-1967

• Rev. S.S. Barnett, 1967-1972

• Rev. E.L. Henry, 1972-1986

• Rev. C.E. Appleberry, 1986-1992

• Rev. Joe May, 1992-1995

• Rev. Harold Robinson, 1995-1998

• Rev. Phillip Heidelberg, 1998-2003

• Rev. Timothy Thompson, 2003-2006

• Rev. Ludrick Cameron, 2006-2009

• Rev. Martha Williams, 2009-2012

• Rev. Elbrist Mason, 2012-2015

• Rev. Eugene Boger, 2015-Present