First African American Episcopal Church (First A.M.E.) of Seattle, Washington is one of several thousand congregations in the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean and on the continent of Africa that comprise the nation’s oldest African-American institution, the A.M.E. Church.
Founded in 1787 by Bishop Richard Allen, the A.M.E church was formed by a group of Philadelphia-area slaves and former slaves who withdrew from St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church, a White congregation, in Philadelphia because of discrimination.
First A.M.E. Church of Seattle, Founded in 1886, is the oldest congregation in the Pacific Northwest established by African Americans. From its inception and to this day, this congregation’s mission is to minister to the spiritual, physical, emotional and intellectual needs of all people.
First A.M.E was organized by Seaborn J. Collins (S. J. Collins) as a small Sunday school band held in various homes of persons of African American Episcopal persuasion. Over one hundred and thirty years later, after much work and prayer, First A.M.E. is the oldest and one of the most prestigious black institutions in Seattle. Today the congregation has over 1,500 members and has a strong track record of ministries including: FAME Housing Corporation which ha properties for low-income families, and a wide variety of church and community outreach programs.
First Church, as it is affectionately called, has a history of bold leadership that has laid an enduring foundation (not only for the church, but for the community as a whole.) through the grace of God. S.J. Collins was one such leader. In 1890, Mr. Collins along with laity members I.I. Walker, John T. Gayton, Fred Lawrence, C.H. Harvey, and Mr. and Mrs. Milton Roy transformed the Sunday school band into a church, that was called Jones Street Church, taking it’s name from what is now 14th Avenue. The first minister assigned to the congregation was Rev. L.S. Blakeney.
S.J. Collins converted a large dwelling on a sizable lot in the Central Area into a place of worship. The property was purchased on Sept. 2, 1890 for $2,000.00 at 10% interest; an unusually high interest rate in those days, indicative of the barriers erected against most Black ventures. This house was the parsonage, as well as the parishioners’ primary place of worship. Numerous structural improvements were made, and the building served adequately for several years.
On Aug. 13, 1891, the church was incorporated. The signatures on the corporate charter are those of Pastor Blakeney, Secretary Milton Roy, Treasurer George H. Grose and laypersons S.J. Collins, Alfred P. Freeman, R.R. Brown and J.C. Blocker.
The congregation continued to grow through the turn of the century. The original sanctuary was replaced by the present edifice in 1912, and a separate parsonage was provided for succeeding pastors. The principal mortgage on the building was the large sum of $10,000.00, but this small group possessed courage, plus a desire to worship in freedom and dignity. Thus they ventured forth, with faith and determination, to pay off the building.
In June 1921, during the pastorate of Rev. J. Logan Craw, the mortgage was burned marking a major milestone in First Church history. In 1923, the church expanded by purchasing two lots located to the north of the original site. By December 1938, the mortgage of this property was also burned.
During World War II and the years after, Seattle’s Black population swelled due to the influx of laborers from the Bremerton Shipyards and the Boeing Company. During this same time, First Church’s congregation increased so much that the existing church was inadequate to house the growing congregation. In 1950, a new building program began under the leadership of Rev. C.D. Toliver. By Aug. 1955, $100,000.00 worth of major additions had been made. They included: enlargement of the sanctuary, a new wing for religious education, a kitchen, nursery and choir facilities. In 1959, property to the East and South of the building were purchased and eventually became parking areas.
The 1960’s, along with social upheaval and racial unrest, brought new challenges to the congregation at First Church, some being: 1) Christianity’s role in a changing moral atmosphere, 2) maintaining its effectiveness and relevancy in a modern society and 3) providing guidance in the continuing fight against racism and discrimination in the Black community. Into this caldron stepped Rev. John H. Adams and, in the tradition of bold leadership, he took First Church to the struggle’s forefront.
Rev. Adams legacy went beyond strengthening the church, but rather strengthening the community as a whole. In addition to being pastor, he was also a community-wide leader, influential in decisions that affected the entire city and its future course. He was co-founder of the Central Area Motivation Program (C.A.M.P.) and the Central Area Senior Citizens Committee in 1964, plus vice chairman of Seattle Opportunities Industrialization Center (S.O.I.C.). Rev. Adams believed that advancement of Black goals must be intertwined with broader city-wide objectives. In his words: “I am a citizen of the community, as well as a citizen of the ghetto. I will work in the overall community of which the ghetto is a part, they must move together to achieve ‘community’”.
The early 1970’s brought much economic growth to First A.M.E. guided by Rev. Solomon Hill (1969-1971) and Rev. Cecil Murray (1971-1977), the church purchased the Risher property at 3 West Dravus, the Imperial Apartments at 1427 E. Pike and Texada Apartments at 1128 – 13th Avenue. These efforts broke new ground in First Church involvement with housing for senior citizens and low-income families. Bryant Manor, at 118th Avenue and E. Yesler Way, offered a completely new opportunity for First A.M.E. Built for $2 million, it represented a joint venture between the church and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
In 1977, Rev. Fred Stephens was assigned to First Church and many improvements were made to the building and grounds. Rev. Stephens organized the Men’s Brotherhood, Chancel Choir, Commission on Social Concerns, voter registration, and he also was instrumental in creating a prison ministry.
Rev. Dr. James H. Oxley’s appointment as pastor of First Church in 1983 heralded a new era of modernization and renewed community involvement. Under Rev. Oxley’s leadership, the church took more responsibility for its housing and day car programs. A $210,000 renovation of the sanctuary and refurbishing of the restrooms was completed. . 35 voice children’s choir organized. Plans for an education wing were completed, and the Child Development Center Educational Enhancement Program was started in October 1988, to aid Black and other minority youth grades 6 – 8 who need support in math, science and language arts.
On October 3, 1984, Mayor Charles Royer signed City Ordinance #111928, designating First Church as a historical landmark. This document, co-signed by City Councilman Norm Rice, states that First A.M.E. Church is associated in a “significant” way with major aspects of Seattle’s cultural, political and economic heritage.
In 1993 Pastor Ellis H. Casson, D.D., became pastor of First A.M.E. and under his leadership the congregation experienced spiritual renewal and growth. Rev. Casson led the effort to completely pay off the mortgage for the fellowship hall and education wing.
Rev. Dr. John J. Hunter served as pastor from 1998 – 2004, and currently Rev. Carey G. Anderson is the pastor of Seattle’s first African American church.
