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'''St Paul United Methodist Church''' is a Methodist church located at 1500 [[6th Avenue North]], on [[Block 38]] in [[Birmingham]]'s [[Civil Rights District]].
'''St Paul United Methodist Church''' is a Methodist church located at 1500 [[6th Avenue North]], on [[Block 38]] in [[Birmingham]]'s [[Civil Rights District]].


The congregation was organized in [[1869]] and established itself at the corner of [[1st Avenue North (Downtown)|1st Avenue]] and [[21st Street North]]. In [[1888]] the church moved to a new building on 6th Avenue North, between [[23rd Street North|23rd]] and [[24th Street North|24th Streets]]. That building was destroyed in a tornado in [[1899]]. The congregation purchased another lot on [[8th Avenue North]], but exchanged that property for the present lot on [[15th Street North|15th Street]] by [[1902]], when it began meeting in a tent. The first building on the present site was completed in [[1904]] or [[1905]], but was condemned in [[1920]] and demolished.
The congregation was organized in [[1869]] as part of the Methodist Episcopal Church North and later became part of the African-American [[Central Alabama Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church]].


Construction of the present church building began in [[1925]].
It established itself at the corner of [[1st Avenue North (Downtown)|1st Avenue]] and [[21st Street North]]. In [[1888]] the church moved to a new building on 6th Avenue North, between [[23rd Street North|23rd]] and [[24th Street North|24th Streets]]. That building was destroyed in a tornado in [[1899]]. The congregation purchased another lot on [[8th Avenue North]], but exchanged that property for the present lot on [[15th Street North|15th Street]] by [[1902]], when it began meeting in a tent. The first building on the present site was completed in [[1904]] or [[1905]], but was condemned in [[1920]] and demolished.


The present building was dedicated in [[1904]] and remodeled in [[1951]].
Construction of the present church building began in [[1925]], with a rusticated brownstone foundation pierced with shallow-arched windows. Progress continued slowly, with plans evidently including a pair of corner towers and heavily buttressed walls of dark brown brick. When construction resumed in force after [[World War II]] the design of the church had changed, incorporating Gothic-style windows and red brick with limestone trim. A small office and Sunday School wing was added to the east of the main sanctuary.
 
The completed church building was dedicated on [[July 1]], [[1951]], though the interior finishes were still incomplete.


Walter White, executive secretary of the [[NAACP]], spoke at St Paul Methodist at the close of the Southeast region leadership training conference in February [[1953]]. By [[1956]] the church began hosting mass meetings as part of the [[Civil Rights Movement]]. During the pivotal [[1963]] [[Birmingham Campaign]] the church hosted meetings as well as training sessions for demonstrators, including young people who participated in the [[Children's Crusade]]. It was the starting point for the Palm Sunday march led by [[N. H. Smith]], [[A. D. King]] and [[John Porter]] following [[Martin Luther King]]'s arrest.
Walter White, executive secretary of the [[NAACP]], spoke at St Paul Methodist at the close of the Southeast region leadership training conference in February [[1953]]. By [[1956]] the church began hosting mass meetings as part of the [[Civil Rights Movement]]. During the pivotal [[1963]] [[Birmingham Campaign]] the church hosted meetings as well as training sessions for demonstrators, including young people who participated in the [[Children's Crusade]]. It was the starting point for the Palm Sunday march led by [[N. H. Smith]], [[A. D. King]] and [[John Porter]] following [[Martin Luther King]]'s arrest.


[[Southern Christian Leadership Conference]] co-founder [[Joseph Lowery]] was pastor of St Paul Methodist Church in [[1965]].
[[Southern Christian Leadership Conference]] co-founder [[Joseph Lowery]] was pastor of St Paul Methodist Church in [[1965]]. The current pews were installed in [[1966]]. In [[1972]] the Central Alabama Conference merged into the [[North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church]].
 
The stained glass in the lancet windows above the entrance were installed in [[1995]].


==Pastors==
==Pastors==
* [[Charles Coleman]], 1940s
* [[H. B. Gibson Sr]], 1950
* [[H. B. Gibson Sr]], 1950
* [[Otis Flournoy]], 1963–1965
* [[Otis Flournoy]], 1963–1965
* [[Joseph Lowery]], 1965–
* [[Joseph Lowery]], 1965–
* [[Alfred Shackelford]]
* [[Horace Blount III]], present
* [[Horace Blount III]], present


==References==
==References==
* "[http://bplonline.cdmhost.com/digital/collection/p4017coll2/id/7442 Arrests Break Up City Hall March]" (April 8, 1963) {{BPH}} - via {{BPLDC}}
* "[http://bplonline.cdmhost.com/digital/collection/p4017coll2/id/7442 Arrests Break Up City Hall March]" (April 8, 1963) {{BPH}} - via {{BPLDC}}
* Schnorrenberg, John M. & Janice Ford-Freeman (October 1999) "[http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/compoundobject/collection/hgpub/id/60684/rec/5 Walking Tours of Birmingham Churches Conducted from 1990 to 1999]". - via [[Alabama Department of Archives and History]] Digital Collections - accessed March 29, 2020
* Flournoy, Cecil B. (March 10, 2017) "[http://www.myorch.org/st-paul-umc-history Memories of St Paul UMC During the Civil Rights Era]" Scrollworks - accessed March 28, 2020
* Flournoy, Cecil B. (March 10, 2017) "[http://www.myorch.org/st-paul-umc-history Memories of St Paul UMC During the Civil Rights Era]" Scrollworks - accessed March 28, 2020


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[[Category:Movement churches]]
[[Category:Movement churches]]
[[Category:1869 establishments]]
[[Category:1869 establishments]]
[[Category:1st Avenue North]]
[[Category:22nd Street North]]
[[Category:6th Avenue North]]
[[Category:6th Avenue North]]
[[Category:1899 demolitions]]
[[Category:15th Street North]]
[[Category:15th Street North]]
[[Category:1904 buildings]]
[[Category:1905 buildings]]
[[Category:1920 demolitions]]
[[Category:1951 buildings]]

Revision as of 12:42, 29 March 2020

St Paul United Methodist Church

St Paul United Methodist Church is a Methodist church located at 1500 6th Avenue North, on Block 38 in Birmingham's Civil Rights District.

The congregation was organized in 1869 as part of the Methodist Episcopal Church North and later became part of the African-American Central Alabama Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church.

It established itself at the corner of 1st Avenue and 21st Street North. In 1888 the church moved to a new building on 6th Avenue North, between 23rd and 24th Streets. That building was destroyed in a tornado in 1899. The congregation purchased another lot on 8th Avenue North, but exchanged that property for the present lot on 15th Street by 1902, when it began meeting in a tent. The first building on the present site was completed in 1904 or 1905, but was condemned in 1920 and demolished.

Construction of the present church building began in 1925, with a rusticated brownstone foundation pierced with shallow-arched windows. Progress continued slowly, with plans evidently including a pair of corner towers and heavily buttressed walls of dark brown brick. When construction resumed in force after World War II the design of the church had changed, incorporating Gothic-style windows and red brick with limestone trim. A small office and Sunday School wing was added to the east of the main sanctuary.

The completed church building was dedicated on July 1, 1951, though the interior finishes were still incomplete.

Walter White, executive secretary of the NAACP, spoke at St Paul Methodist at the close of the Southeast region leadership training conference in February 1953. By 1956 the church began hosting mass meetings as part of the Civil Rights Movement. During the pivotal 1963 Birmingham Campaign the church hosted meetings as well as training sessions for demonstrators, including young people who participated in the Children's Crusade. It was the starting point for the Palm Sunday march led by N. H. Smith, A. D. King and John Porter following Martin Luther King's arrest.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference co-founder Joseph Lowery was pastor of St Paul Methodist Church in 1965. The current pews were installed in 1966. In 1972 the Central Alabama Conference merged into the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church.

The stained glass in the lancet windows above the entrance were installed in 1995.

Pastors

References

External links

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