This church is a secession from the Columbus Street Church, occurring
in the latter part of the year 1877. Its first meeting, with a view
to organization, took place in the parlor of Mr. Samuel Phillips. The
chief persons in the constitutional membership were Messrs. Samuel
Phillips, John Phillips, Alfred Thomas (the father of Mrs. S. H.
Wright), C. Sterrs, William Watkins and H. A. Loveless. The meeting
for the recognition of the church was held in a hall on Dexter avenue,
January, 1878, which in former days had been used as a slave trader’s
pen. Dr. J. B. Hawthorne, pastor of the First Church (White), with his
deacons, represented the white brethren, and Rev. J. A. Foster, pastor
of the Columbus Street Church, represented his church.
The writer was the first pastor, but owing to embarrassments which
soon followed, he did not remain long in charge of the work. Revs. J.
W. Stevens, F. McDonald, J. C. Curry, A. F. Owens, T. Fryerson, A. N.
McEwen, Dr. Langridge, and others followed in the pastoral charge. The
progress of the church was rather slow till the time of Mr. McEwen,
under whom their present beautiful building was erected. The present
pastor, Rev. R. T. Pollard, seems to be appointed the task of leading
not so much on lines of material development as in lines of spiritual
growth. Many other good and pious persons have been added to their
number, so that no church in the State can now boast of a people more
thrifty, aspiring and refined.