[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 17722]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              ST. JOHN AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

 Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to 
a historic church in Omaha, NE, which celebrated its 145th anniversary 
on November 13, 2010. St. John African Methodist Episcopal--A.M.E.--
Church was founded in 1865 and continues to host a thriving 
congregation in north Omaha's minority community.
  The current church structure is listed on the National Register of 
Historic Places, having been designed by Clarence W. Wigington, who 
grew up in Omaha, becoming Nebraska's first African-American architect. 
He later went on to become the first municipal African-American 
architect in the United States.
  St. John A.M.E. Church was organized at the end of the Civil War, 2 
years before Nebraska became a State. This institution endured 
challenging times of racial bigotry and hatred, which were 
unfortunately widespread across America at the time. Maintaining the 
church's presence required the strength, courage, and faith of early 
African-American leaders.
  Today, St. John A.M.E. Church remains a focal point in Omaha, NE; as 
the congregation continues a 145-year tradition of ministering to the 
spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional and environmental needs of 
the north Omaha community.

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