Abridged History of St. James AME Church
From the East End Prayer Meeting, which was organized by five persons, St. James A.M.E. Church was born in March 1894 when the Rev. Reverdy Cassius Random, Pastor of St. John A.M.E. Church, was invited to come and conduct the formal organization of a church. The membership was sixteen. It held its first public worship at a place on Cedar Avenue near 100th Street known as the “Wigwam”. The New Mission moved from the “Wigwam” and relocated on Hudson Street.
From 1894 forward, all the ministers were able and spiritual men. It was under the pastorate of Rev. Joseph M. Evans, whose outstanding
leadership was the signal for the forward movement that led the congregation in 1925 to the present Cedar Avenue location. The edifice was purchased for $57,500.00. A tremendous burst of church and Sunday School growth occurred during this period.
We are blessed to have Rev. Dr. Timothy W. Storms, Sr. as our current pastor. We pray that his tenure will be fruitful and blessed as he leads us forward in the will of the Lord.
We at St. James A.M.E. Church celebrate 130 years of a powerful legacy of Christian service to God, Church and Community and will continue to do so with the Lord’s help.
