[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17216]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    IN RECOGNITION OF SAINT JAMES A.M.E. CHURCH'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY

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                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 15, 2013

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to 
extend my sincere congratulations to the congregation of Saint James 
A.M.E. Church in Columbus, Georgia, as the church's membership and 
leadership celebrates a remarkable 150 years. The congregation of St. 
James A.M.E. Church will celebrate this very significant anniversary 
with a worship celebration on Sunday, November 17, 2013 at the Church 
at 1002 Sixth Avenue in Columbus, Georgia.
  Tracing its roots back to the Civil War era, the St. James 
congregation emerged from the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church 
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with Reverend William Gaines serving as 
the first pastor in 1864. Today, the physical body of the church serves 
as a reflection and memorial of past members and pastors who 
contributed to its preservation. On September 29, 1980, the church was 
listed on the National Historic Register.
  In an 1873 act, the Georgia Legislature granted St. James A.M.E. 
Church the land on which it stands and the first cathedral construction 
was completed in 1876. The ornately carved front doors, built by 
slaves, are the oldest parts of the church and are a reminder of the 
history of strength and perseverance behind the congregation.
  Since its founding, St. James has endured several additions and 
renovations, all of which help tell the story of the church, its 
members and its fifty-one former leaders. In 1886, Reverend Larry 
Thomas oversaw the construction of the bell tower, which still stands 
today as a symbol of the Church's concrete mission to serve its 
congregation and community. Reverend Harold I. Bearden, who served from 
1940 to 1948, installed the pipe organ that is still heard during 
church services today.
  In 1988, St. James purchased property for a new parsonage, and by 
1996, the conversion of the old parsonage into an administrative 
building was completed under the leadership of Reverend Scottie 
Swinney. The building now houses offices, a conference room, music 
room, clothing and food bank, and archives room, which collectively aid 
in the fulfillment of the church ministry. After Reverend Swinney's 
tenure, Reverend Richard Washington was pastor of the church. The 
church is now pastored by Reverend Joseph Baker, Sr.
  In 2004, St. James erected an Elevator Tower to accommodate all 
members of the congregation. The building includes classrooms, 
accessible bathrooms, a stewardess room, and an elevator that services 
the Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary. To commemorate this achievement, a 
time capsule was deposited behind the Elevator Tower cornerstone to be 
opened in 2054.
  Throughout all of these changes, the church has consistently 
maintained its presence as a center for spiritual, educational, 
professional, and civic gatherings within the African American 
community.
  The second oldest church of its denomination in Georgia, St. James 
A.M.E. Church has served as pillar of faith and community for 150 
years. The spirit within the congregation and their commitment to the 
growth of St. James is both admirable and inspiring.
  Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute 
to Saint James A.M.E. Church in Columbus, Georgia for their dedication 
to helping one another, serving the community, and above all, 
worshipping our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

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