Documents on the Early History of the Colored Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church in Florence

Subject

Religion

Description

A series of newspaper articles on the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church South (CME Church; now the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church) in Florence.

The CME Church was organized December 16, 1870 in Jackson, Tennessee by 41 freedmen who had worshiped with the Methodist Episcopal Church South as opposed to the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), founded in Philadelphia in 1816 or the African Methodist Episcopal Church Zion, founded in New York in 1821.

The CME Church was organized with the cooperation of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, which agreed to transfer the buildings and property of its Black congregations to the CME Church and the new communion sought to appropriate and "reorganize" these properties, which created opposition among many congregations, which preferred to affiliate with the AME or AME Zion communions.

In June of 1871 CME founding Bishop William H. Miles (1828-1892) came to Florence "determined to reorganize the churches which were in existence before the war, and claims the property which belongs to them." Florence's "Zion African Church" (which may indicate it's affiliation with the AME Zion Church), which tradition says was named Church Springs (due to its location near the public spring on the corner of Court and Bluff Streets), and is now known as Greater St. Paul AME Church, at the time was still affiliated with the ME Church South. Church Springs seems to have officially affiliated with the AME Church with the creation of the North Alabama Conference in December of 1878. Thus its trustees were alarmed at the attempts of Bishop Miles to appropriate their building and property in 1871. These trustees, led by freedman Sidney De Priest (1814-1887), grandfather of US Congressman (1929-1935) Oscar S. De Priest (1871-1951), opposed "inviting any Minister of the Conference to preach to them, on the ground that they were afraid if any of them were admitted to the Church to preach to them, they would hold it, take it from them, and hand it over to Bishop Miles ..."

Nothing further is heard of the CME Church in Florence until July of 1887. On Saturday, July 30 of that year, Rev. LC Harris published "A Card" in the "Florence Wave" informing Florentines that the CME Church of America was attempting to establish a congregation in Florence, "build a house to be dedicated to the worship of the true and living God," and was asking for financial assistance from their friends, White and Black.

No further records from the 1880s have been located however it would appear that this congregation was in fact established and by 1896 was known as the "Court Street C. M. E. Church," indicating that it was located somewhere on Court Street. On Wednesday, July 30,1896, Rev. W. Richard Palmer, ex-presiding elder of the Nashville (TN) and Courtland (AL) District, and "until recently pastor of the Court Street C. M. E. Church, Florence," passed away and his funeral was conducted in Florence.

By September of 1903 district conferences of the CME Church were being held in Florence, in this particular case at Seven Points, in a tent, with the "Florence Times" noting that "this is a small church, but it is working manfully.... They hope to put up a building next year." This is undoubtedly the origin of Armstead Chapel at Seven Points. But was the Court Street congregation still active?

Throughout the early 1900s, newspaper references note quarterly meetings, district conferences, and district women's congresses of the Tuscumbia District in which the Florence congregation was a participating member however no name of the congregation is given. Thus precisely when Armstead Chapel was founded and when the Court Street congregation ceased to assemble, isn't known. Research is ongoing and new information will be posted as it becomes available.

See "Documents on the History of the First Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, Armstead Chapel, at Seven Points, in Florence" for the history of Armstead Chapel CME Church..

Source

1. Lauderdale (Co, AL) Times
2. Florence (AL) Journal
3. Florence (AL) Journal
4. Florence (AL) Wave
5. Florence (AL) Herald
6. American Star (Tuscumbia, AL)
7. Florence (AL) Times
8. American Star (Tuscumbia, AL)
9. American Star (Tuscumbia, AL)
10. American Star (Tuscumbia, AL)
11. American Star (Tuscumbia, AL)
12. American Star (Tuscumbia, AL)
13. American Star (Tuscumbia, AL)
14. American Star (Tuscumbia, AL)
15. American Star (Tuscumbia, AL)

Publisher

1. Microfilm
2. Microfilm
3. Microfilm
4. Microfilm
5. Newspapers.com
6. Bell & Howell Microform Division
7. Newspapers.com
8. Newspapers.com
9. Newspapers.com
10. Newspapers.com
11. Newspapers.com
12. Newspapers.com
13. Newspapers.com
14. Newspapers.com
15. Newspapers.com

Contributor

Lee Freeman

Rights

Images are available for educational and research purposes. This image may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without the express written consent of the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of the interested party to identify the copyright holder and receive permission.

Format

Jpeg

Language

English

Type

Still Image

Files

Collection

Religion

Citation

“Documents on the Early History of the Colored Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church in Florence,” Shoals Black History, accessed June 8, 2026, https://shoalsblackhistory.omeka.net/items/show/1347.