First A.M.E. Zion Church, 801 North Eddy Street
The first historically Black church on the city's east side.
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Click here to read audio transcriptFounded in 1907, First African Methodist Episcopal Church was the first African American church on the predominantly white, east side. It grew out of Olivet A.M.E. Church when several families decided to start another church. In the late 18th and earth 19th century, Olivet A.M.E. was the only church for African Americans, who traveled a great distance to attend. At an annual conference, the Rev. A.M. Taylor was appointed to serve as Olivet’s pastor. At a later conference, Taylor was assigned to another church. But liking South Bend and its people, he refused the appointment.
In 1907, dissension arose between Taylor and several of his members. After much discussion Taylor, his wife and five children, and a few faithful members (including W.C. Franklin and family, Mrs. NanieCrittendon and daughters, the Cooksey family, Charles and Eva Calloway, Eva Higgens, and Mr. Hoad) decided to band together and start another church on the east side of South Bend. They purchased an existing house structure on the corner of Eddy and Campeau streets and named it Taylor’s Chapel. In 1922, Rev. Buford Gordon was appointed to serve as pastor of Taylor’s Chapel. A campaign to raise money for a new building started in 1923. Construction began in August 1924, and was completed in 1925, for a cost of $40,000. The church was officially dedicated on February 25, 1925. The congregation was composed of 130 members. The speech at the dedication service was titled “The Christian Approach in Race Relations.”
Because the church was being built in a predominately white area, some white people enlisted the assistance of the Ku Klux Klan in devising devious ways to stop the construction. Because of the ensuing damage to the building and actually knocking down a wall, Rev. Gordon and members kept all-night vigils to protect the church.
In 1907, dissension arose between Taylor and several of his members. After much discussion Taylor, his wife and five children, and a few faithful members (including W.C. Franklin and family, Mrs. NanieCrittendon and daughters, the Cooksey family, Charles and Eva Calloway, Eva Higgens, and Mr. Hoad) decided to band together and start another church on the east side of South Bend. They purchased an existing house structure on the corner of Eddy and Campeau streets and named it Taylor’s Chapel. In 1922, Rev. Buford Gordon was appointed to serve as pastor of Taylor’s Chapel. A campaign to raise money for a new building started in 1923. Construction began in August 1924, and was completed in 1925, for a cost of $40,000. The church was officially dedicated on February 25, 1925. The congregation was composed of 130 members. The speech at the dedication service was titled “The Christian Approach in Race Relations.”
Because the church was being built in a predominately white area, some white people enlisted the assistance of the Ku Klux Klan in devising devious ways to stop the construction. Because of the ensuing damage to the building and actually knocking down a wall, Rev. Gordon and members kept all-night vigils to protect the church.