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Overview
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| Record Creator: | Union Memorial United Methodist Church |
| Title: | Union Memorial United Methodist Church Reference Collection |
| Date Span: | 1922-2018 |
| Abstract: | Union Memorial United Methodist Church was founded in 1846. It is the oldest African-American United Methodist Church in the Missouri Annual Conference, and one of the four oldest African-American churches in St. Louis, Missouri. There are four items in this reference collection: namely a 1922 Easter panoramic photograph of the Union Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church congregation in St. Louis, Missouri, and various editions of local church histories. |
| Identification: | aamc.in.gcah5307 |
Union Memorial United Methodist Church was founded in 1846. It is the oldest African-American United Methodist Church in the Missouri Annual Conference, and one of the four oldest African-American churches in St. Louis, Missouri.
As Union Memorial United Methodist Church carried out its mission and focus on making disciples for Christ, there have been numerous events that catapulted the church to a level of accomplishment befitting its role as the Mother Church. During the pastorate of Dr. R. E. Gillum, starting in 1900, the church began to grow in leaps and bounds. Larger quarters were sought and found. Union Memorial purchased Temple Israel, located at Leffingwell Avenue and Pine Street. The church historian notes that the structure, regarded as the most expensive, finest, and imposing edifice of any African American congregation in the world, remained standing until 1963. The members entered this church in 1907.
During the first fifteen years of the pastorate of Reverend Dr. B. F. Abbot at Union Memorial Union Memorial United Methodist Church, he guided a much-needed extension program. Six new churches were established in St. Louis City and St. Louis County. They were: Gratiot Street Church in 1907, First Methodist Episcopal Church in Kinloch Park in 1907 (now North Park Union Memorial United Methodist Church), Webster Groves Church 1908 (now Unity Union Memorial United Methodist Church), Cosby Chapel M.E. Church in 1914, Asbury Methodist Church in 1915, and LaSalle Street M.E. Church in 1920 (now Beloved Community Union Memorial United Methodist Church).
Since Union Memorial was located in the Mill Creek area that was cleared and redeveloped, the members and Reverend John J. Hicks decided to move west and build a new church. A ground-breaking ceremony occurred in 1961, and the cornerstone laying was in 1963. The church, at 1141 Belt Avenue, opened in November, 1963.
The Reverend Dr. John N. Doggett pastored Union Memorial from 1964 to 1976. During Dr. Doggett’s pastorate, the church became Union Memorial United Methodist Church in 1968. Later, The Union Memorial Outreach Center (UMOC) at the church school was established with 501(c)(3) status. In June, 2016, the Reverend Dr. Cheree Trent-Mills became the 25th pastor of Union Memorial UMC.
There are four items in this reference collection: namely a 1922 Easter panoramic photograph of the Union Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church congregation in St. Louis, Missouri, and various editions of local church histories.
Materials have been arranged in the following manner.
Basic arrangement.
When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, Union Memorial Methodist United Methodist Church Reference Collection, African American Methodist Heritage Center, Madison, New Jersey. Do not make use of the item's call number as that is not a stable descriptor.
There are no restrictions regarding this collection. Copyright still owned by the African American Methodist Heritage Center. Permissions to publish must be directed to GCAH.
Detailed use restrictions relating to our collections can be requested from the office of the archivist at the General Commission on Archives and History. Photocopying is handled by the staff and may be limited in certain instances. Before using any material for publication from this collection a formal request for permission to publish is expected and required.
| Call Number | Folder Title | Date(s) |
| 5531-1-6: 1 | Union Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church Congregation Easter Photograph | 1922 |
| 2413-6-1: 6 | Union Memorial United Methodist Church Histories | 2017-2018 |
