Perched on Hanover Street stands Vanderhorst Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. It began as a mission chapel in 1883. The chapel served Methodists in the city’s northeast, especially cotton factory workers. That factory is now the Cigar Factory.
Originally, it was named Cumberland Methodist Church. This honored the first Methodist church in Charleston on Cumberland Street. That earlier church burned down. But its cornerstone was saved. It was placed in the new Hanover Street building. The mayor and other important people attended the ceremony. The new Cumberland Methodist Church was large. It had a frame and a tin roof. It rested on brick pilings. The congregation was white.
In 1912, a Black congregation bought the building. They were part of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. The church was renamed Vanderhorst Memorial. This honored Bishop Richard H. Vanderhorst. He was born in Georgetown SC in 1813. He died in 1872.
The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church has a rich history. It began in 1870 in Jackson Tennessee. Forty-one former slaves from the Methodist Episcopal Church South founded it. They wanted their own church. John Wesley founded Methodism in England in 1844. It came to America as the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1784. The CME Church follows Methodist beliefs. It welcomes all who want salvation from sin.
The CME Church believes in Jesus Christ. They believe he reconciled humanity to God. They believe the Holy Spirit empowers the church. This power helps them preach the Gospel. The Bible is the inspired Word of God. It contains everything needed for salvation. Today the CME Church has about 800000 members. They live in the United States and 14 African countries.
Slavery and segregation led to the CME Church’s creation. After the Civil War, the Methodist Episcopal Church South lost Black members. Many joined African Methodist Episcopal churches. In 1866, the Methodist Episcopal Church South started organizing its Black members. They formed an independent church.
In 1870, the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church was founded. Bishops from the Methodist Episcopal Church South consecrated William Henry Miles and Richard H. Vanderhorst. They became the first CME bishops. The CME Church was the first African American denomination in the South.
Bishop Holsey greatly influenced the CME Church in Atlanta. He moved to Atlanta after serving as a pastor and being elected bishop. He helped establish Atlanta’s first CME churches. These were Butler Street CME and West Mitchell Street CME churches.
In 1954, the church changed its name. It became the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. This happened at the 23rd General Conference in Memphis. Channing H. Tobias suggested the change. He wanted to remove the racial designation.
CME churches and leaders supported the Civil Rights Movement. They worked to integrate the Atlanta bus system. Butler Street and West Mitchell Street churches hosted civil rights meetings.
Many influential people came from the CME Church in Atlanta. These included boxing champion Tiger Flowers. Also Sadie Gray Mays and Ruby Doris Smith Robinson were members.
Today, the CME Church is a leading Christian denomination for African Americans. There are over 330 CME churches in Georgia. Vanderhorst Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church stands as a testament to faith and perseverance. It reflects the community’s strength. It also embodies its enduring spirit.