SAT., FEBRUARY 21, 1976, THE CAROLINA TIMES - 19
I. JOSEPH'S' "'QECIBERS IN HISTORIC QABCH
By Elva P. DeJarmon
Members and friends of
Saint Joseph's African
Methodst Episcopal Church,
Durham's oldest black religious
facility, marched to their
newly constructed church on
Sunday, February 15.
With the weather
cooperating and with songs of
praise and thanks, the more
than 400 marchers including
some babies in strollers, pushed
by their fathers, made the brisk
walk in approximatelytwenty
minutes. The trip had been
marked off as one male
exactly.
The last meeting in the old
edifice at 809 Fayetteville St.,'
included following the ritual of
the A.M.E.' Church down to
the prayer - with completion
of the ritual and services in the
new church, located at the
corner of Fayetteville and
Burlington Streets.
Led by Rev. Philip R.
Cousin, members of his family
and Rev. J. N. Sheares, the
Presiding Elder, Inspirational
Singers, Gospel Choir and
Senior Choir, along" with the
Stewards, Trustees,
Stewardesses and members, the
group of parishioners marched
down Fayetteville Street. A
police escort was also provided.
For those unable to make the
long trek, the Emmanuel
A.M.E. Church, a sister church,
provided a ride. Several private
cars carried those who 'desired''
a ride. Some ISO members
were awaiting the processional
at the new church and many
visitors were in attendance.
However, chairs were placed in
the aisles and at other points to
accommodate the overflow of
members and visitors.
Photographs by A. M. Rivera, Jr.
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LAST MEETING IN OLD SANCTUARY
BEGINNING THE MARCH
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THE LINE STRETCHES LONG
ALL AGES PROUDLY ON THE WAY
A beautiful portrait of Rev.
Cousin, done by Miss Beverley
Aden, was presented to him by
her. She called it the "whole
man". Miss Allen, a member of
the Inspirational Singers of St.
Joseph's is an Art student at
North Carolina Central
University. She is also the
granddaughter of Mrs. Georgia
Thompson.
The portrait will be hung in
the entry hall of the church.
Following the inspirational
sermon by, Rev. Cousin, four
new members affailiated with
the church, thus making them
a part of the history-making
event.
Robert Markham, a great
grandson of the founder of St.
Joseph's was in attendance at
the services.
The A.M.E. Church was
founded by Richard Allen in
Philadelphia, Penn., in 1887
when he protested the
discriminatory practices of the
Methodists. Such practices
included the separate seating
and communion services to the
blacks in attendance at the
services.
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APPROACHING END OF MARCH
RECORDING EVENTS FOR POSTERITY
MARCHERS ENTER NEW SANCTUARY
FIRST MEMBERS IN NEW CHURCH
St. Joseph's A.M.E.
Church was founded by the
Rev. Edian Markham in 1881.
Following its growth and need
for the larger facility, St.
Joseph's edifice was built at
809C4d Fayetteville Street and
has been the scene of many
up-lift and progressive
programs for black people. St.
Joseph's Church was a sort of a
casualty with the Urban
Renewal program and plans
were made to relocate the
facility. Many citizens, both
black and white, have made
financial contributions to the
development of St. Joseph's.
Some of the stained glass
windows in the old edifice
carry the names of some of
those families.
The new St. Joseph's
facility provides seating space
for 750 persons in the
sanctuary, with shades of
purple carpeting and lighter
shades on the pews and chairs
where ministry sit. Stained
glass windows with a newer
design adorn the sanctuary
with a skylight. The other areas
include meeting and
educational rooms, kitchen
facilities, and classroom area. A
paved parking lot is also
provided which will handle
over 125 cars. There is space
for continued development for
other programs to be offered in
the community.
Rev. Cousin says that "the
church is new, but it will be
used to enhance and bring to
the community the services it
may need. Churches are to be
used, not only for worship
programs, but for community
services as well."