It was in the late 17th century when the area, which is now known as Springfield and Clark County, began
to change. Many Kentucky and Virginia pioneers began to move into this new area. In 1809 the Rev. Saul Henkle, an ordained
Methodist Episcopal Minister, arrived in the frontier community from Virginia. He became Springfield's first permanent minister.
During the winter of 1810 and 1811, a number of "new light" or Christian Peachers converged on the area
to conduct a "season of religious excitment."
In 1814 the Methodist Episcopal Church erected the first church building. This church later changed it's
name to Central Methodist in 1862 and was located at High and Center Streets.
It was this group and the Lutheran Church that helped to find a place for Blacks to worship. In 1824 the
African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized to serve a growing Black population wihich numbered more that 50 families.
North Street Church was the first African Methodist Episcopal Church and Trinity was the second.
In the period after the Civil War, migration of Blacks into the area increased substantially. This increased
population was the incentive of the society to establish two new churches. Nine members of the Colored Methodist Society organized
a new church under the auspices of the White Methodist Conference. A site was purchased on South Center Street on May 5, 1864,
Wiley African Methodist Episcopal Church was dedicated May 5, 1867.
As the city continued to grow, the need was felt for a church in the southeastern portion of the city. The
people of the North Street Church organized an outreach mission under the pastorate of Rev. John W. Gazaway. A site on Summer
Street was purchased.
ALLEN CHAPEL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
This church was founded May 1881 and was located on Summer Street behind St. Joseph Catholic
Church. The opening sermon was preached by the Rev. B.T. Lee, then President of Wilberforce University.There were seven charter
members. The following pastors were in charge during the stay at this location: Rev. C.W. Crosby, Alexander Smith, R.S.
Blount, O.P. Ross, D. Dorsey, Joseph Artope, Jack Tate, C. Phelps, M.E. Davis, George W. Jackson, and Jessie Davis, who purchased
the site on which the church was located.
After many years at this location the officers of Allen Chapel AME Church decided to sell this
property and purchase a larger place. For the sum of $1,200 the new Trustees: Albert Duncan, George G. Walker, Arhur J. Riggs,
Samuel T. Moore, and David Taylor, signed for the property at the corner of Clifton Street (later street was
changed to Selma Road) and Homeview from Second Evangelical English Lutheran of Springfield on July 15th,
1913. Construction then began on the church which was completed in 1915. Thomas A. Greene was the pastor.
TRINITY AFRICIAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
A site on Summer Street was purchased and a framed structure was built.The building was dedicated
May 1881. After many years, the members decided to sell the building. They purchased a new site on Selma Road where they built
the brick building now known as Trinity Africian Methodist Episcopal Church.
The 32nd Anniversary was held July 23-30, 1928 at Trinity AME Church under the pastorate of Rev.
B.A. Galloway. Some of the events were: Brotherhood Night, Church Night, Women's Night, Fraternal Night, Business and Professional
Night, climaxed by the sermon on Anniversary Sunday given by the Rt. Rev. Bishop William H. Heard D.D., newly elected Bishop
of the Third Episcopal District.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1944 - MORTGAGE BURNING PROGRAM
During the depression years only one person paid the mortgage on Trinity AME Church for more
than twenty years, with no help from the membership.
When Rev. E.T. Wikle was appointed as pastor of Trinity AME Church and found what a hardship this was causing,
he decided to raise the remaining funds. After talking with the CEO of the lending institution he was advised that he, Rev.
Wikle, must see Mrs. Mary E. Clark and explain his intention to her and if she agrees to accept it, it would cost her another
four hundred ($400) to clear the indebtedness.
The Mortgage Burning program was held Sunday afternoon, October 1, 1944 at 4 p.m. The young and
the elderly members participated in the program. The mortgage was burned by all of the congregation. Trustees Samantha Taylor,
Edna Arnold, Esther Richardson, Elinnore Glanton, Moses Lyles, William Isley, Stanley Wilson, Wesley White and General Wilson
participated. A brief history of Trinity AME Church was read by G. Henry Lewis.
DIAMOND JUBILEE AND 75TH ANNIVERSARY
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1956
A week of services was held with Mrs. Anna Wallace giving a brief history of the church. A presentation
was made to Mr. Stanley Wilson by Mrs. Eunice Rice.
One night of highlights of the program was a mock church conference with a two cents conference
claim which must be paid by September 16th.
During the pastroate of Rev. Wesley Matthews, the total undercroft of the church was remodeled,
which included furance, kitchen, restroom, cement floors and plumbing.
The largest change to the church, under the leadership of Rev. H. Mason Brown, cost nearly $30,000
and included the main auditorium, new lights, pulpit changes, pews, painting, new windows, roofing and much more. After all
the work was completed a re-dedication of the building was held. At 11 am service, the Rev. Handley A. Hickey, Dean of Payne
Theological Seminary, Wilberforce, Ohio, delivered the morning worship message, The Rt. Rev. Bishop H. J. Bearden of the Third
Espicopal District gave the afternoon service.
In 1995 houses next to the church at 558 and 560 Selma Road were purchased with the idea in mind
of someday having a parking lot for the church. In 1999 a new roof was put on the church and the houses were demolished.
MINISTERS SERVING TRINITY A.M.E. CHURCH
The following pastors served Trinity Africian Methodist Episcopal Church
from 1913 through 2007
Rev. Thomas A. Greene, Rev. Charles Irvin, Rev. B.A. Galloway,
Rev. Wallace Wright, Rev. Garth Davis, Rev. E.T. Wikle, Rev. Thornhill,
Rev. Wesley Matthews, Rev. William R. Walker, Rev, Harold Ashby,
Rev. Lawrence Thompson, Rev. W.D. Lewis, Rev. Earl Thompson,
Rev. H. Mason Brown, Rev. Vance Milligan, Rev. James M. Tate, Jr.,
Rev. Dwight E. Smith, our present pastor, 2001 -
"GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS"
Lamentations 3:23
