[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 5574-5575]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       IN RECOGNITION OF ST. PAUL AME CHURCH'S 113TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 23, 2015

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to 
extend my sincere congratulations to the congregation of St. Paul 
African Methodist Episcopal Church in Columbus, Georgia as the church's 
membership and leadership celebrate a remarkable 113 years. The 
congregation of St. Paul AME Church will celebrate this very 
significant anniversary with a celebration on Sunday, April 26, 2015 at 
the Church in Columbus, Georgia.
  Tracing its roots back to the turn of the twentieth century, the 
church's first cornerstone was laid on April 27, 1902 at Meeler's Hill, 
a historic neighborhood in Columbus, Georgia. Under the leadership of 
Reverend A.C. Linton, a new church family was born. This edifice served 
as the congregation's place of worship until 1957, when Reverend Fedd 
and the congregation relinquished control of St. Paul at Meeler's Hill 
to the City of Columbus for urban renewal. During this time, Mt. Tabor 
AME Church, Grant Chapel AME Church and Galilee Baptist Church allowed 
the St. Paul family to hold Sunday services at their locations two 
Sundays a month.
  God answered the congregation members' many prayers on May 25, 1960, 
when St. Paul broke ground at 1508 South Street in Columbus. Under the 
leadership of Reverend R. L.

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Coachman, Sister Callie Jackson turned the first spade of dirt. The 
church was completed and dedicated on October 9, 1960.
  In 1981, God again called St. Paul to relinquish control of the South 
Street location to the City of Columbus. In October of that year, a 
groundbreaking ceremony was held at 4900 St. Mary's Road in Columbus. 
On April 11, 1982, a dedication service for the new location was held 
under the leadership of Reverend Frank C. Maddox.
  Throughout the years, the church would be remodeled and renovated, 
with new technologies installed. With these aesthetic changes came 
changes to the church's ministry through the creation of several new 
committees, programs, and outreach ministries. Moreover, the church has 
had the honor of hosting several sessions of the Southwest Georgia 
Annual Conference. The Church takes pride in being a ``dangerous'' 
church, for they are armed with the Word of God.
  The story of St. Paul AME Church, which began 113 years ago, is truly 
an inspiring one of the dedication and perseverance of a faithful 
congregation of people who put all their love and trust in the Lord.
  Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute 
to St. Paul AME in Columbus, Georgia for their long history of coming 
together through the good and difficult times to praise and worship our 
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

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