13 minute read
Restoration and Re- Dedication of Mount Calvary Cemetery
Rev. Dr. Aliston Thomas, Ph.D., MBA, PMP, M. Div.
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Shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, the Rev. Aliston Thomas, pastor, and Cliff Wise, a trustee of Allen African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Oxford, Pennsylvania, met with Mr. James Salve and his son, Mason Salve, to begin planning the restoration of Mount Calvary Century as part of Mason’s Eagle Scout project. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. But thanks to God’s strength, grace, and mercy, a little over two years later, lots of hard work, teamwork, and support, Mount Calvary Century has been fully restored. It was recently re-dedicated on Sunday, July 24, 2022. The re-dedication involved prayers, singing of hymns, including Negro spirituals, and words of thanks, encouragement, and affirmation.
Mount Calvary AME Church was erected on Bethel Road in 1852 and is one of the oldest churches in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Like most churches at the time, particularly those where the dominant population was African American, a cemetery (Mount Calvary Cemetery) was built adjacent to the building.
The Reverend Henry Jones donated the land on which Mount Calvary AME Church and cemetery were established. The only remaining evidence of Mount Calvary AME Church today is the cemetery, where members still visit their loved ones. An article in the Oxford Press commemorating the church’s 151st anniversary stated that Bishop Daniel Alexander Payne dedicated the church and appointed Presiding Elder Rev. Herbert of the Baltimore District its first pastor. At that time, the membership consisted of 23 members.
The congregation relocated from lower Oxford to East Market Street, where the cornerstone was laid on August 8, 1884. Mount Calvary AME Church then became Allen AME Church in honor of the first bishop of the AME Church, Bishop Richard Allen.
On May 23, 1935, tragedy struck a blow to all members as the second building was destroyed by fire. A new edifice was erected at Eighth and Market Streets (788 Market Street, Oxford, Pennsylvania) and dedicated by Bishop Henry Sims in the fall of 1935.
Buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery are Civil War, World War I, and World War II colored troops and veterans. Dale Hardy from Shiloh Presbyterian Church (Oxford, Pennsylvania) also remembered his ancestors on his father’s and mother’s side. He remembered the Wolse and the Jones families. “When I was a teenager, I remember coming with my mom and dad and Shiloh Church members to clean up the cemetery and visit the graves of my ancestors,” he said. “I am overwhelmed to see what was done here today. It seemed like people were slowly forgetting. I appreciate the work Mason Salve put in here. I’ll be back and bring my family. My mom’s family dates back to the 1700s. They would be pleased to see this.”
Mount Calvary Cemetery is truly a treasure in Oxford, Chester County, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the United States of America.
We thank newly minted Eagle Scout Mason Salve, his father, Mr. James Salve, the Boy Scouts of America (Troop 13), Shiloh Presbyterian Church, and many others who contributed to the restoration of this treasure.
The next step is to partner with a local educational institution to pursue a National Historic Landmark Designation for Mount Calvary Cemetery.
To God be the glory! Rev. Aliston Thomas serves as God’s servant as pastor at Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church in Oxford, Pennsylvania.
...From Encourage p10 in [our] hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.” Isolation is not good for our mental or physical health, but it can be disastrous for people who are accustomed to being socially active. We also know Artificial Intelligence (AI), including social media, texting, and any computer-based communications, do not always satisfy the need to be in person with others. Absolutely, there are risks lurking everywhere, even in our homes. Still, we must continue to meet our Connectional church family’s communication and spiritual needs using the best available communications technology. Along with setting up an effective communication plan at your church, think about adding motivational and inspirational messages of encouragement. We must let our family and friends know through all these worldly challenges, we can give difficult issues to the Lord. John 14:27 comforts us with these words, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” Let’s admit it; we have all been in a “Sick & Shutin” mode at some point since early 2020 due to the pandemic. Knowing we are a Connectional church family, historically, we are also known to be “socially needy.” As the bad news continues to escalate, let’s take special care to encourage ourselves and go out of our way to inspire someone else. My virtual Sunday school class and family members expect to get encouraging text messages from me. The intent is to let them know that they are not alone and that I am thinking about them. As children of God, we are the best ones equipped to shine the light on someone’s moment or day, or maybe we can help make someone’s life better during these challenging times, even if it has to be on a virtual platform. Connect with Zoom Host Judy Rose Weaver at Jefferson Chapel AME Church Circuit in Natchez, Mississippi 39120.
...From AME Church p1 approach another election, and we prepare for a new legislative session in the South Carolina State House; we convene to ensure we are on one accord and able to hold our elected leaders accountable.”
Jaheim President, president of Young People and Children’s Division, said: “Many media outlets have reported on Gen Z’s lack of engagement and commitment within faith institutions. This conference proves that there are individuals within Gen Z who are engaged not only with the church but also as change agents for social justice in the community.”
The ASPIRE convening kicked off on August 3, 2022, with an all-black reception. Representative Chandra Dillard brought greetings, and the church recognized Visit Greenville SC, Greenville Convention Center, Little Steps, United Way of Greenville, and Harvest Hope Food Bank for their work in the Greenville community.
Thursday’s program included a youth learning lab and adult learning, featuring STEM and financial wellness courses for youth. Friday’s program included a blood drive and a basketball tournament. Saturday’s program included a college and career workshop facilitated by the SC Commission on Higher Education and the Seventh District’s Lay Organization.
Participants experienced the multi-learning modal space, ASPIRE Zone, filled with exhibits and presentations from the Children’s Museum of the Upstate, Scaly Adventures, Compassion International, and Gospelogy. It also included a main stage for a daily block party, teen talent, and a fashion show.
The Clergy Institute addressed issues concerning the decline in churches and cultural shifts that require adaptive leadership methods.
Throughout the week, members and attendees had an opportunity to sign a petition to urge state lawmakers to draft legislation supporting the tenets of the Jubilee Justice Agenda, a black policy agenda committed to improving the quality of life and life outcomes of Black South Carolinians.
ASPIRE’s purpose is to inspire a movement within individuals to pursue dreams beyond what they can see and to change the narrative of our communities through critical thought, imagination, and collaboration.
For more information on the Seventh Episcopal District of the AME Church or its ASPIRE conference, visit ame7.church. ❏ ❏ ❏
...From From a Basement p1 Throughout its 198-year history, the church expanded from Father King’s house, and Adam Brown’s basement, to the home of the Rev. Philip Brodie. Since its founding, the church was known as “the Little Red Church on the Green” (North Street near New), “Lime House” (Seventh Street east of Broadway), “The Old Bethel” (Sixth Street east of Broadway), “Allen Chapel” (1856-1873), and today Allen Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church. Allen Temple AME Church remains a staple of community life among people everywhere. Specifically speaking, the church continues to play a pivotal role throughout the city of Cincinnati, which several major church ministries call the “city of seven hills” home. One of those churches has now found itself in a unique position that allows it to live out its denominational mission less encumbered by paying off its $2.4 million mortgage. Allen Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church is the oldest AME congregation west of the Alleghenies and, subsequently, the oldest black church in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. The current edifice was built in 2004 under the leadership of the late Rev. Dr. Donald H. Jordan, Sr., a man synonymous with church life and the funeral industry in Cincinnati. Quinn Chapel AME Church, Forest Park, and Allen Temple AME Church on Reading Road stand to his legacy. In the fall of 2007, Bishop Robert V. Webster, the then presiding prelate of the 3rd Episcopal District (Ohio, West Virginia, and Western Pennsylvania), appointed the Rev. Dr. Alphonse Allen, Jr., to serve as the 65th senior pastor of the district’s flagship church. Over the past 15 years, Pastor Allen has sought to make Allen Temple a church home for everyone, from the upper echelon to the lowest and often ignored by society; Allen Temple has remained committed to reaching the city one soul at a time.
The Things We Preserve and the Sacredness of Place
Rev. Dr. Darryn Hewson, Contributing Writer
Encounters with God in nature can be transformative experiences. The top of a mountain, a quiet beach listening to the ocean waves, sunlight filtered through the forest canopy–these are incredible places that God created and shared with us, so no wonder we can feel God there. The idea of nature preserves and national parks is theoretically to preserve the natural beauty of creation (there is, however, a troubling history here to share, perhaps for a different article), but what about the sacred buildings that we create to honor God?
We say that worship is not about buildings, it’s about the people, but if you have ever been in buildings like St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome or the “Duomo” in Milan, Swayambhunath (a 2500-year-old Buddhist temple near Kathmandu), Changu Narayan (a 1600-year-old Hindu temple in Nepal), Al Aqsa Mosque, or the many other architectural majesties across the globe dedicated to the glory of God, there is something to be said for the buildings themselves. Regardless of your religion, if you allow yourself to experience these places as places of worship, you cannot help but feel the sacred energy of the place. Even the local church, mosque, temple, or synagogue can evoke similar feelings for those that gather in them.
On a recent trip to Turkey and Palestine, surrounded by ancient places of worship, this thought struck me about what it is we are preserving. The feeling of the divine resides or is perhaps more easily touched in these sacred places. The history of worship passed down,
and the intention of their creators built them as a symbol of their devotion and love for God. Perhaps the most well-known structure in Turkey is the Hagia Sophia, an ancient building that has been a church, a mosque, a museum, and now a mosque because people realized it needed to be a place of worship. Standing shoulder to shoulder with a thousand plus worshipers at the Hagia Sophia calling out to the greatness of God is an awe-inspiring experience.
Similarly, praying at Al Aqsa with 5000 others or any other buildings I have mentioned, you cannot help but be moved. These buildings are incredible, and some carry the echoes of millennia of prayers and worshipers. All of these sacred places have been renovated or even rebuilt many times because people feel their significance.
By the same token, on a hike through a valley in Hebron, Palestine, we came across an ancient church, or what was left of one. There was a spring coming out of the mountain and a stone-lined cave built into it that local history tells us was a place of baptism. A few years ago, someone tore down much of what remained of the church, but the spring and place of baptism remain a sacred place to stop and drink pure refreshing water. It is both God-made and human-made/dedicated, and it retains a sense of sacredness even after being torn down, and that sacredness goes beyond any one religion. The building was not preserved, but the sacredness lives on.
As we examine our current practices of worship, there is a lesson in these places about what it is that is worth preserving. It is a feeling of touching the divine that cannot be torn down. That is what we need to discover, create, and hold on to—the sacredness of place. ❏ ❏ ❏
...From From a Basement p12 As a historic black church following the pathways of other churches throughout this country, Allen Temple has on numerous occasions contributed its part to the storied legacy of black people in America. From serving as a waystation along the Underground Railroad to hosting the 1893 National Colored Convention, also known as Turner’s Convention, founded by Bishop Henry McNeil Turner, the first black postmaster general in the United States. Allen Temple has produced legendary Cincinnatians like Judge William McClain, Dr. George S. Hale, Sr., Dr. Chester Pryor, Oscar “The Big O” Robertson, Judge Deborah Gains, Police Lt. Donna Hurst-Robinson, and former Municipal Court Judge Fanon Rucker. Before 1835 the black people coming to Cincinnati began their religious experience at what became Allen Temple. Today, Cincinnati’s historical black Baptist churches can trace their roots to this historical church: Union Baptist Church (February 7, 1835), Zion Baptist Church (1845), Plum Street Baptist Church (July 31, 1867), Cummingsville Baptist Church, Walnut Hills Baptist Church, and Mt. Zion Baptist Church (May 28, 1873).
The significance of this historic congregation goes beyond paying off a $2.4 million mortgage; it is the testament of a people who have viewed themselves not as an entity unto themselves but of the people. Dr. Allen and the leadership of Allen Temple AME Church have seen fit to rid itself of a financial responsibility that frees them to expand their reach to those in need, one soul at a time. Join the Allen Temple family for a weeklong celebration beginning August 10-14, 2022, as we give thanks for what only God could have done. ❏ ❏ ❏
