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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]]. Its present building was dedicated in [[1904]] and remodeled in [[1951]].
The congregation was organized in [[1869]] as part of the Methodist Episcopal Church (the Northern denomination). After denominational reunion in 1939 it was part of the Methodist Church. From [[1876]] to [[1972]] it was part of the African-American [[Central Alabama Conference Methodist Church|Central Alabama Conference]] of its denomination.


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.
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.


[[Southern Christian Leadership Conference]] co-founder [[Joseph Lowery]] was pastor of St Paul Methodist Church in [[1965]].
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 [[Nelson Smith Jr]], [[A. D. King]] and [[John Porter]] on [[April 7]], 1963.
 
[[Southern Christian Leadership Conference]] co-founder [[Joseph Lowery]] was pastor of St Paul Methodist Church in [[1965]]. The current pews were installed in [[1966]].
 
With the formation of the United Methodist Church in [[1968]] segregated conferences were eliminted. 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]]. In [[2020]] and [[2022]] the church was awarded $500,000 Historic Preservation Fund Grants from the National Park Service to support restoration and rehabilitation of the historic building. Lord Aeck Sargent of Atlanta, Georgia designed the preservation and repair program, which was carried out by [[A. G. Gaston Construction Co.]]
 
In March [[2023]] the [[Jefferson County Commission]] allocated $101,261 of its American Rescue Plan Act funds to support the church's plans for a visitors center focused on its Civil Rights history.


==Pastors==
==Pastors==
* [[W. Coleman]], 1879
* [[Frank Johnson]], 1887
* [[Charles Coleman]], 1940s
* [[H. B. Gibson Sr]], 1950
* [[H. B. Gibson Sr]], 1950
* [[Jacob C. Wilson]], 1954-1962
* [[Otis Flournoy]], 1963–1965
* [[Otis Flournoy]], 1963–1965
* [[Joseph Lowery]], 1965–
* [[Joseph Lowery]], 1965–1968
* [[Horace Blount III]], present
* [[Alfred Shackelford]]
* [[Horace Blount III]]
* [[Richard Lane Stryker III]], 2022
* [[Marian Royston]], 2024-


==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}}
* {{White-1998}}
* 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
* Rebman, Stephanie (April 21, 2020) "Birmingham church lands $500K in National Park Service funds for project." {{BBJ}}
* Stuart, Shauna (October 27, 2022) "Birmingham’s St. Paul United Methodist Church receives $500,000 grant from National Park Service." AL.com


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.stpaulbham.org/ St Paul United Methodist Church] website
* [http://www.stpaulbham.org/ St Paul United Methodist Church] website


{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Paul United Methodist Church}}
[[Category:Methodist churches]]
[[Category:Methodist churches]]
[[Category:Movement churches]]
[[Category:Movement churches]]
[[Category:1869 establishments]]
[[Category:1869 establishments]]
[[Category:Block 38]]
[[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]]
[[Category:Churches in Northside]]

Latest revision as of 06:37, 23 April 2024

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 (the Northern denomination). After denominational reunion in 1939 it was part of the Methodist Church. From 1876 to 1972 it was part of the African-American Central Alabama Conference of its denomination.

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 Nelson Smith Jr, A. D. King and John Porter on April 7, 1963.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference co-founder Joseph Lowery was pastor of St Paul Methodist Church in 1965. The current pews were installed in 1966.

With the formation of the United Methodist Church in 1968 segregated conferences were eliminted. 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. In 2020 and 2022 the church was awarded $500,000 Historic Preservation Fund Grants from the National Park Service to support restoration and rehabilitation of the historic building. Lord Aeck Sargent of Atlanta, Georgia designed the preservation and repair program, which was carried out by A. G. Gaston Construction Co.

In March 2023 the Jefferson County Commission allocated $101,261 of its American Rescue Plan Act funds to support the church's plans for a visitors center focused on its Civil Rights history.

Pastors

References

External links

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