Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church

First organized around 1835, the Black Christian congregation of Newark possessed no dedicated worship space of their own for decades, utilizing space rented from other organizations. In 1861, the congregation purchased a lot upon which they built their first church structure, called the “Colored Chapel.” This building proved temporary as well. The congregation finally settled at 64 East Church Street in 1867 at an edifice previously used by the Presbyterian Church. The trustees for that new, permanent site were Jackson Shackleford, George Lucas, Clement Dorsey, Elijah Mably, and a Mr. Lemons. By 1881, the Church had a membership of about thirty people. Under the guidance of Rev. Henry Upthegrove, the Church was incorporated on March 17, 1897 as the African Methodist Episcopal Church of Newark, Ohio.

The Church worked over the next two decades to gather the money necessary to demolish the old building and build a new facility dedicated to A.M.E. The work began sometime in the alte spring or summer of 1920 The new construction was a cause for celebration; when the cornerstone for the church was laid on October 22, 1920, there was a parade, music, and a large gathering. A similar celebration was held on March 27, 1921, when the new building was dedicated. 64 E Church Street is still the home of Trinity A.M.E Church. Despite a fire in 1972 that destroyed part of the Church's interior, the structure survived and underwent repairs and remodeling in 1974.

For more information also see:

Rita Richardson Jackson. African American Trailblazers of Licking County (1808-2008). Newark, OH: ATIR Publishing, 2008.

J.G.

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