In the November Annual Conference of 1906 a request was made by Presiding Elder of the Little Rock District, Rev. W.A.J. Phillips and the presiding Bishop of the 12th Episcopal District The Rt. Rev. B.F. Lee that two congregations Centennial AME Church, Rev. B. G. Dawson, Pastor and Brown Memorial AME Church, Rev. E. C. Foreman, Pastor merge together as one church. Union African Methodist Episcopal Church was born from that merger. Centennial was on Wright Avenue and Pulaski with a membership of about 100 and Brown Memorial was located on Pulaski Street between 18th and Wright Avenue facing west and had a membership of about 75.

​

Union remained in the old Brown building at 1809 Pulaski until the property was sold in the year 1909.  The new site at Wright Avenue and Pulaski Street was chosen and the new Union was built.  Rev. G.B. Ashford was sent to Union and the cornerstone was laid in 1911.  Bishop J.S. Flipper, the Presiding Bishop of the 12th Episcopal District, presided.

​

There have been 35 pastors appointed to Union AME Church since 1906. Pastors were changed almost every two years from the early days of Union, all surviving on meager salaries, supplemental groceries, rooming with members and numerous other sacrifices - to make this church a great church.

​

Many improvements and updates have been made by Pastors of Union.  A listing of the pastors and some of their accomplishments are as follows:

Rev. H. A. Pettus (1915-1916),  Rev. J.D. Howell (1916-1920),  Rev. F.L. Bovey  (1920-1921), Rev. T.H. Robinson (1921-1922), Rev. W.S. Shelton (1922-1924), Rev. E.J. Lunon (1924-1927), Rev. E.T. Waterford (1927-1930)

​

Rev. L. O. Grady 1930-1932,– Entrance Of The Church was remodeled.

​

Rev. R.C. Holbrook  (1932-1934), Rev. H.T. Primm (1934-1935)   Rev. T.S.J.  Pendleton (1935-1936), Rev. H. A. Leader (1936-1937), Rev. L. C. Fisher (1937),        Rev. W.T. Eskridge  (1937-1938),  Rev. L. O. Grady  (1938-1939),    

​

Rev. G.W. Blackmon  (1939-1941)  Began repair work on the church.

​

Rev. J.H. Lewis, 1941-1942, - also Principal at Dunbar High School served as pastor with no pay. Completed repair work begun under Rev. Blackmon.

​

Rev. J.H. Lewis (1941-1942),   Rev. J.B. Shumpert  (1942-1944),

​

Rev. H. Ralph Jackson 1944-1947, - Organized Gospel Choir, initiated many financial drives for the betterment of the church.

​

Rev. W.P. Weddington (1947-1948)

 

Rev. Z.Z. Driver, 1948-1961, - broke ground for the present site in March 1954 including the Educational Building, Pastor’s Study, Sunday School Rooms, Assembly rooms, choir rooms, dining room and kitchen facilities.  The Cornerstone was laid in October, 1956. Rev. Driver organized an Eagle Club to raise the funds for the completion of the Sanctuary.  The Sanctuary was completed but there were no pews. Several members joined together to raise the amount needed to purchase pews which were paid for in cash.

​

Rev. S. C. Thornton 1961-1964, is remembered as a fiery gospel preacher and a singer of note.

​

Rev. Cecil Cone 1964-1969, improvements included central heating and cooling system installed and most of the mortgage paid.

​

Rev. H.D. Brookins 1969-1970,  Installed a new roof on the church.

​

Rev. J. Gilbert Blake 1970-1971,  a great organizer and encourager of church attendance

​

Rev. J.J. Brown 1971-1981,  The Fellowship Hall was paneled and painted, tables and chairs purchased, lights in the Sanctuary changed. The Choir stands, chairs and pulpit area changed to face the audience. All rooms were renovated and Sanctuary carpeted and Hymnals and Bibles were purchased. A Parsonage at 1904 S. Monroe was purchased. The Miller-Gladney Library was set up and dedicated in 1978.  The following choirs were organized during Rev. Browns’ tenure: The Sanctuary, Allen Stars and J.J. Brown Inspirational Choirs. A paved parking lot was competed, and a Van was purchased.

 

Rev. Eugene Brannon 1981-1991, Parking lot and Van paid for, New  Bi-Centennial   Hymnals purchased. Property adjacent to the parking lot acquired. The Sunday School grew extensively under his leadership.  Rev. Brannon stated that he had a dream that Union had beautiful stained glass  windows.  He initiated a drive to replace all of the windows and  New Stained-Glass windows  were installed in the sanctuary as well as a remodel of the  pulpit and general upgrades to the building. A New Missionary Unit for Young Women of “childbearing” age was formed which allowed young women to become an integral part of the Women’s Missionary Society. 

​

Rev. Nathaniel Irving 1991-1998, Parsonage at 1904 Monroe was sold and a new parsonage across the street from the church at 1816 S. Pulaski was purchased and  remodeled. Property around the church was purchased. The Hanging of the Greens program which decorates the church at the beginning of Advent was introduced and is still a part of our yearly calendar observations.

​

Bishop Frederick H. Talbot  1998 Pastored Union from the Retirement of Rev. Irving until Planning Meeting. During that period of time, he lead the development of Union’s Mission Statement which can be found on the back of the weekly church bulletin.

​

Rev. Randolph W. Martin, Sr. 1998-2007, was sent to Union to carry us into the 21st century.  He came prepared and innovated to expand the horizons of Union.  Under his pastorate, new ministries were formed, the Trustee Board initiated a five-year capital improvement drive, and plans from the Church Growth and Development Conference were implemented. A Sober Living Center for Men was opened and  property around the church was purchased. Carpet and cushions for the pews were  updated for the Sanctuary. A Food Pantry serving the community was also begun.

​

Rev. Nolan Watson 2007-2011, - Union continued its mission to serve the community through its outreach ministries under the leadership of Rev. Nolan Watson.  Under his leadership, neighborhood property was purchased, the  Fellowship Hall was renovated, new curtains, tables and chairs purchased, poured a new parking lot,  landscaped the church grounds, purchased a new bus, upgraded the sound system, installed several new heating and air conditioning units in the kitchen, office, choir room, and church school room, installed a heater in the narthex, and beautifully renovated the men and women restrooms.

 

Rev. Chestine  Sims 2011 - 2022, was appointed pastor of Union.  He came to us with a new energy and ministry that included his musical talents in singing as well as his gift in delivering the Biblical Word.  The membership under the leadership of Pastor Sims increased across all services and for that we are grateful.  Property at 1818 S. Pulaski was purchased. All vacant property on the south side of Wright Avenue facing the church, from Pulaski to Cross Street  and on Pulaski Street, the east side of the street from Wright Ave. to 19th Street have been purchased giving the church room for expansion and control over the area around the church.

​

The church mortgage was paid in full In April of 2013, and a Mortgage Burning   Ceremony was held.  In May, 2013 the church bus was paid in full. The parsonage was completely  remodeled.  The Video/Visual Ministry was upgraded and expanded to provide a new  dimension to the worship experience. And a new electronic reader board was installed on the Wright Avenue and Pulaski Street Corner of the Church. Video monitors were installed in the vestibule and hallway for programming and announcements; additional monitors were placed in  classrooms for educational  resources.

The Pulaski Street front entrance to the church received a full update and rebuild with new Men’s and Women’s restrooms in the vestibule area, upgraded  heating and air  conditioning. The church received gifts of a smart board, piano and significant monetary gifts.   Several classrooms were remodeled including; a new conference room and new finance room,  and the Pastor’s  adjoining conference room was refurbished.  Handicapped accessible ramps were installed in the sanctuary, and upgraded lighting was installed for all campus parking areas.

​

The 2020 Pandemic effected our church, our country and our world. Because of  Covid-19 our church doors were closed, but the church remained open for one year as we  were able to “Pivot” and change to “Church Online” on Zoom. We remained “United” and praised God even though the world changed around us. In 2021, we were able to worship In-person but continue to offer online worship via the FaceBook Live and You Tube channels for Sunday Church School and Morning Worship. Wednesday Night Bible Study, Thursday Church School and other church meetings and activities were all held on Zoom. The members continued to show their financial support of the church via Givelify, online giving, mail in and through the church website via PayPal.  

 

Rev. Monty Royster 2022—Present, was sent to Union at the Fall Convocation and  Planning Meeting, October, 2022. He brings an energetic, charismatic style of  preaching and a focus toward church growth and evangelism. Our church has returned to in-person Sunday Church School and Vacation Bible School. The Food Pantry has expanded with many willing workers from Union and Friends of Union, serving over 300 families per month.

 

Union African Methodist Church has been blessed with energetic pastors who have worked diligently to hold the principles of faith, as designed by our forefathers, to make us useful and inspiring.  We have sent forth leaders to the General Church including four Presiding  Elders, one  Bishop, and sent several sons and daughters to the ministry.  We thank God for the small group of organizers, who saw the need for change, thus bringing Union African Methodist Episcopal Church  into existence.  We pray to fulfill our mission as designed by God, and we give God thanks and praise for all He has done for us a church body.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

UNION AFRICAN METHODIST EPSICOPAL CHURCH

“THE PLACE WHERE EVERYBODY IS SOMEBODY – IN CHRIST JESUS!”