St. Paul AME Zion Church
The denomination of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church was formed in the early 1800s because of discrimination faced by Black Methodists of the time.1 However, the AME Zion Church was formed during the late 19th century due to an internal split within the AME Church.2 Today, both the AME and the AME Zion churches remain similar in their beliefs but maintain separate leadership.3 The present-day AME Church has nearly three million members, and the AME Zion Church has over one and a half million members.4
Before the AME Zion Church in Salisbury was called “St. Paul,“ there was an earlier church: Willow Grove AME Zion Church, which was built in 1880.5 The St. Paul AME Zion Church was constructed in 1885.6 Later, around 1906, the church was moved to nearby Church Street, following the draining of the pond that the church was built near in 1901.7
The cover image here is a rare photograph of the Church before its removal for the construction of Route 13, taken in 1908. Figure 1 is a map of this location on Church St., while Figure 2 shows where the church was in its original location, before being moved to Church Street.
In 1942, the city constructed Route 13 and Route 50. These roads targeted Georgetown, which was a Black sub-community of Salisbury, Maryland. An overwhelming majority of Georgetown was displaced due to the construction of these roads, including the St. Paul AME Zion Church. All but two buildings (the Charles Chipman Cultural Center and the house beside it) were destroyed, removed, or replaced.
Not only is it notable that the road targeted ethnic minorities, but also the timing of it. In 1942, the United States was well involved in World War II. This road was constructed while most men were off at war and therefore unable to defend their communities. Many men came back to the town to find their houses most literally paved over.
The St. Paul AME Zion Church still exists to this day. After its upheaval in the 1940s, the church moved to its current location on Delaware Avenue. It has remained in this location for over 70 years. St. Paul still holds services and remains committed to a youth group, outreach, and weekly services.10 Their current pastor is Reverend Tyquan Alston, and the church’s motto is: “It’s not about me. It’s about God!”11
Their statement of faith is the following:
“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the Forgiveness of Sins, the Resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.”12
