A moving experience for the AME Church

Warwick — Rachel White practically grew up in the tiny Union African Methodist Episcopal (UAME) Church on McEwen Street. Her parents, John and Gearlin Logan, were fixtures there, with John serving as the organist and Gearlin as just about everything else. “She was the rock of this church,” recalled White, who has been a member here all of her 66 years. “She fed the ministers and did everything that needed to be done.” So it could have been with mixed emotions that White stood in front of the 20 by 40 building last Friday morning, just after sunrise. The church, her church, was hoisted up off of its foundation, ready for a journey through the streets of Warwick, to a final resting place on Forester Avenue where it will serve the community in a unique and different way—as a museum dedicated to the history of African-Americans in the Warwick Valley. Today, though, White and her fellow parishioners look on and reminisce about their church and what it means to them. “We did everything around this church,” said White, who lived just across the street at 99 McEwen for many years. “Weddings, funerals, baptisms, dinners were held right inside. For years, we only had 25 members. But this is a wonderful day for me, that God has let me live this long to see this day.” Ann Paige, 67, has her own memories of this simple yet powerful church, the church her grandfather, the Rev. William Anderson, served as assistant pastor. The Anderson family has a long history in Warwick—125 years—and has attended the UAME Church for five generations. She lived in Warwick most of her life, moving to New York City as a child but returning with her own daughters to raise them in the Warwick Valley. She’s lived in the corner house on McEwen and Wheeler for 45 years now. She’s been part of the choir and has done missionary work for her church. “I’ve been doing something all my life here,” she said, looking over at the church. “I feel good and bad today. I know the fun and joy we’ve had here. But time moves on. The new church will be nice. I’m happy about it.” This church is like home for many in Warwick’s black community, the place where joyous celebrations are held as well as life’s most trying milestones. “Warwick has always been blessed with a wonderful black community,” said White. “We are just good people.” It was time now for the group that gathered on the chilly Friday morning to participate in a worship service, led by the Rev. Vernon H. Peters, the pastor of the Union AME Church. “God be merciful unto us, and cause His face to shine upon us,” said the Rev. Peters. “Standing on the promises of Christ my King, Through eternal ages let His praises ring,” sang the group that had gathered. “Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, Standing on the promises of God.” Sister Rachel White and Sister Ann Paige, as they are known in their church, each read passages from the Bible, along with other church members. When the service was ended, the Rev. Peters said, “Thank you, thank you, thank you. A new era will begin, not because of us, but because of God.” Warwick Mayor Michael Newhard, who spearheaded the campaign to preserve the church, which was built 101 years ago, said he was happy that the community will indeed be preserving this piece of Warwick history. “I am happy to be able to preserve this as an educational tool for our future generations,” said Newhard. Town of Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton summed up the mood of the day, as well as the sentiments of those who were gathered. “Very few things in life are simply good,” he said. “This is a really good thing. I’m glad the mayor bit into this and wouldn’t let go.”