OUR HISTORY:

As early as 1900, men and women of color were congregating in what was known as a brush harbor on Hardaway Street. In 1907 this body of believers incorporated to form what is now Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal church. The Rev. Felix Strum was the first pastor of St. Paul's AME Church. Rev. W.W. Frazier was the presiding elder and Bishop L.J. Coppin was the presiding prelate. Among the members who were instrumental in the founding of the church were Phillip William, Oliver Jones, Lewis Fulson, Dock Henry, Eugene Jackson and Verlin Jones. In 1933, St. Paul's AME Church was destroyed by fire. The Rev. L.C. Carter was the pastor during his period. The church family held worship services at Tullibody Auditorium at State Teachers College, now named the Tullibody Fine Arts Center at Alabama State University, Montgomery, Alabama. In 1934, under the leadership of Rev. Carter, a new church was built at the corner of Hall and Payne Streets. Although the name of the church was not legally changed, according to court records, the church became known as New Saint Paul AME Church. Saint Paul was blessed with outstanding leadership throughout her rich history. In November of 1996, the Rev. Joseph Rembert (Pastor Joe) was appointed by Bishop Zedekiah LaZett Grady to pastor Saint Paul. Upon receiving the appointment, Pastor Rembert was notified that Alabama State University planned to purchase the church's property at 1302 Hall Street to facilitate the university's expansion. The congregation had made no preparations to move. After much dialogue and debate, including intervention by Mrs. Rosa Parks in an attempt to save the 4,174 square feet edifice sitting on two-tenths of an acre of land, the church conference decided to sell the property to Alabama State University. On June 27, 1997 Saint Paul purchased 3.25 acres of land on Virginia Loop Road for the sum of $120,000. a 3,300 square feet home sits on the lot. On July 10, 1997 Alabama State University and Saint Paul closed on the Hall Street property for the sum of $162,500. From August 17, 1997 through May 1998, worship services were held at Troy University Montgomery's Whitley Hall, thanks to Dr. Glenda Curry, the University's president at that time. Pastor Rembert is a graduate of Troy University Montgomery. On January 8, 1998, St. Paul purchased an additional 1.82 acre of land adjacent to the 3.25 acres on Virginia Loop Road. However, the official board aurthorized Pastor Rembert to negotiate the purchase of the Normandale United Methodist Church property located on East Patton Avenue. On May 22, 1998, the trustees of St. Paul closed a deal to purchase the Normandale property, which includes a 24,000 square feet sanctuary and an educational building sitting on 2 acres of land. Under Pastor Rembert's administration the membership continues to grow.