Praise God from whom all blessings flow! I love history and I love hearing about history. There are so many different names for our A.M.E churches I was wondering who they were named for or what inspired the name of your church? Please share about your Church's name. God loves you so much and so do I!

-- Anonymous, November 05, 2001

Answers

Reedy Chapel, the Mother Church of Texas, was named after one of its earliest pastors. See its history at http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/RR/imr 1.html.

-- Anonymous, November 05, 2001

Jerryl thank you for the link it was inspiring to read the history of Reedy Chapel and how they went to court in the late 1800's to fight for their church. I hope everyone will read the remarkable story of this wonderful church.

-- Anonymous, November 05, 2001

Dear Rev. Rogers

Our Church (the youngest in the Bermuda Annual Conference) was first named Bethany Church but then renamed Bright Temple A.M.E. Church after the late Bishop John Douglas Bright.It was named Bright Temple during his tenure as the prelate of the First Episcopal District.Bermuda has been a part of the first District for over 100 years and may have been there from the its beginning. Bishop Bright was instrumental in securing the necessary cooperation and funds for the construction of our Church. Thanking God for his vision he inspired my father (the design architect)to move from the Church of England to the Denomination we now have been serving for over 35 years.Bright Temple has grown to a class "A" Church very quickly and supports the full costs of its pastor. We are both a tithing and praying Church.

God Bless You Rev. Denise

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2001

Brother Nalton what an inspiring story about your church. Thank you for sharing it! Is there a picture of your church on the web? I would love to see the picture. Also what type of design did your father use for the church. Thanks for sharing about your previous Bishop. God bless you and your church!

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2001

I am so proud of our AME churches big and small, urban and rural! For each one has a distinct personality and a very unique history. When one visits europe one of the highlights are the churches. Often times tours tell the history of how the church withstood the ravages of war. We too can be proud of our churches, some that are over 100 years old. What an incredible legacy. I am hoping in the future we can have an A.M.E church tour in our various districts. For it would be an amazing way to learn about African-American history and also about US history. I know in my own state the first pony express rider was a Black woman and was a member of an A.M.E church in Anaconda, Montana in the 1800's. The A.M.E church has been in Montana longer than some of the white denominations we came west to bring the gospel message during the gold rush.

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2001

Our church is the youngest one in the Ontario - Canada Conference. We are named Phili R. Cousin African Methodist Episcopal Church and we are located in Mississasuga, Ontario (Canada).

Our church is named in honor of the Rt. Rev. Philip R. Cousin, current Presiding Prelate of the 4th Episcopal District who has served as an active Bishop for 25 years.b

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2001

Dear Rev. Denise Thank you for such a kind response. You can find my Church as well as all of the Churches of the Bermuda Annual Conference at www.bdaconfame.bm . The first Church you will see is the Mother Church of our District (St.Paul AME) built by slaves in 1863 for the B.M.E Church. It was then taken over by the AME Church around 1867 (Dates I am not 100% sure of). Click on Churches and you will see Bright Temple towards the bottom.

Our Church is hosting the opening Session of thseries of annual conferences for the First District on Feb.28th next year. You are more than welcome to visit.

God Bless You

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2001

Wow!!! What an amazing history the AME church has had in Bermuda. Thank you for the web address. The mother church is breath taking! And I love your church, what a wonderful use of space and design. Reading about all the churches makes me proud to be a part of a connectional church. And in terms of coming to Bermuda in Feb. What a wonderful temptation for in Bozeman, Montana where I live it will probably be below zero. Again thanks for the web page address. I hope everyone will visit the web page.

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2001

My church Joseph Chapel was so named because the founders took inspiration from Joseph of the Old Testament. They endured many harships early years of the church including meeting in a tent for the first year until the first sanctuary was built.

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2001

Michael thanks for the story, where is your church and how old is it? God Bless you!!

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2001

Rev Rogers My church is also St Paul, St Paul AME, Cambridge, Ma. We have just celebrated our 128th anniversary in October. How the name was chosen has not been documented. Our "sub title", if you will "The Church that speaks to the World", comes from the number of visitors from arond the world have signed our Vistor Cards and the Pastor had sermons on radio in parts of Africa. At a Christian Education Conference, the presenter in one workshop commented that Richard Allen named churches Bethel so that runaway slaves would only have to know one name on their flight to the North. They only had to ask for Bethel. I have no idea how accurate that histoical point is but it makes sense. Has anyone else heard of that story? God Bless Bro Bob McCain

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001