Step back in time to 1866. The air is thick with change and uncertainty. We stand before Centenary United Methodist Church. It is more than just a building. It is a testament to resilience.
Centenary United Methodist Church’s story began in 1862. Free people of color from Trinity Methodist Church sought their own place. They yearned to worship without the sting of discrimination. Early members met in various locations. These included Military Hall and the Memminger School. Finding a permanent home proved difficult. Racist ordinances stood in their way.
Following the Civil War, Charleston was in disarray. Many white residents had fled. Reverend Theodore Willard Lewis and Reverend Alonzo Webster stepped in. Union Army officials gave them authority over Methodist churches. These men organized Black congregations. In 1865, Reverend Webster led the effort. He organized Black Methodists who had left Trinity Baptist Church.
The congregation found a building. It was a classical Greek structure built in 1842. Previously, it housed Wentworth Street Baptist Church. The purchase was fraught with challenges. The selling church demanded gold. Centenary United Methodist Church paid $20,000 in gold on April 10, 1866. Some of the gold was shipped from New York. Charleston did not have enough.
Centenary United Methodist Church became a beacon of hope. It was a space for political organizing. It was a space for social uplift. Black Charlestonians gathered here. Leaders from various backgrounds worked together. They addressed issues facing the Black community. In 1883, a meeting addressed the guidance of Avery Normal School. Leaders pushed for curriculum upgrades. They wanted to serve the growing Black middle class.
In 1916, the church hosted the Charleston City Federation. This was an arm of the National Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs. Jeanette Cox was elected as the first delegate. Centenary United Methodist Church became a favorite among Charleston’s Black upper class. Many members were free people of color before the Civil War.
The church faced challenges. A hurricane damaged the building in 1911. Renovations occurred in 1953 and 1964. Yet, Centenary United Methodist Church endured. It stands as a symbol of resistance. Its walls echo with stories of strength. Prominent members included the Weston, Wilson and Johnson families. Septima Poinsett Clark was also a member. She was a civil rights leader. She conducted citizenship schools here. These schools were for Dr. Martin Luther King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
Today, Centenary United Methodist Church continues its legacy. It is a reminder of faith. It is a reminder of perseverance. Take a moment to reflect on its history. Consider the struggles and triumphs. Feel the spirit that resonates within these walls.