AME Church temporarily moves to Senior Center

Warwick - Rev. Mashona Davis, pastor of the Union African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), is praying that the Warwick community will demonstrate the same spirit of generosity that it did almost 100 years ago. In 1906 Rev. Joseph Stiles, who had been assigned to Warwick with a mission to build a house of worship for people of African ancestry, spoke at a special service attended by both black and white members of the community. Rev. Stiles announced the forming of a new Church organization and plans for its house of worship. The estimated cost of the building was $1,500, and, as it does today, the Warwick community generously responded. Other churches pledged financial support and Thomas Demerest consented to the continued use of his hall on Railroad Avenue for services on the first Sunday of each month. In 1905, the Church secured the property for its present location at 98 McEwen St. Henry Demerest donated lumber and use of his horses to haul the sand that Frank Odell had provided. Fanny Benedict donated stone for the foundation as well as a team of horses. On Dec. 17, 1905, the cornerstone was laid and two months later members and others attended the first worship service held in the new building. The Church was formally dedicated on June 7, 1906. Sadly, the African Methodist Episcopal Church building on McEwen St. has seen better days. According to Davis, a recent engineering report has all but condemned the property for safety reasons. And, with modern building codes and other requirements to contend with, repair and renovation is out of the question. The only solution, she explained, is to demolish the old church building and replace it with a new facility. Davis and the 40 families who form the congregation do not need a large building. “We don’t have to build a cathedral,” she smiled. Nevertheless, even a modest facility is estimated to cost over $500,000 and the church will need at least $100,000 to begin the project. So far, members have pledged $15,000. The good news is that the new facility will accommodate additional services for the congregation including an extended vacation bible school and possibly a day care center. And, until a new building is completed, the Warwick Senior Center has offered the use of its new facility for Sunday services and Wednesday night bible study. Fund raising plans include the sale of building bricks with the names of individual or business donors engraved. Any person, business or organization wishing to help the church reach its building fund goal should call 986-3649.