St. John CME Church

In 1920 the Manning family, along with Mrs. Amanda Peat and Mr. and Mrs. Clemmie Iveson, Sr., conducted services at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A W. Manning. The membership increased and they relocated a larger wooden structure at the corners of Lime and Glenn Avenue. This facility was called “The Hipper Dorm” and Elder John Roberts led the congregation. Rev. Dr. R. D. Langford played a key role in the group’s purchase of the property on Clark Avenue from A. W. Manning. A wooden church was built and this group continued to grow and prosper in the Lord.The wooden church had hardwood floors and wooden benches and there were movable straight back chairs in the choir stand. During this period there were no modern facilities. Mr. A.W. Manning was the only custodian and he allowed the use of his outside facilities by the church members. They had oil lamps for lighting, which were filled and cleaned on Saturdays. Mr. Manning would start the fire for the big pot-bellied stove early on Sunday mornings to make sure the church was warm. The stove would keep the front sides of the members quite warm, while their backs remained less warmer.Brother Ernest Stroud, an officer of the church, donated a bell would be used to call worshipers to services. Sunday church school, Sunday morning and evening services, and Epworth League (now known as Christian Youth Fellowship ‘CYF’) were held weekly. During the Sunday services, two officers, brothers A. W. Manning, and Clem Iverson, would sit on each side of he pulpit.
In 1923, the Christian Methodist Episcopal Conference appointed Rev. E. L. Johnson as the first pastor. The church, having originally been called Manning Chapel, adopted the name, St. John Colored Methodist Episcopal Church at its first church conference. “Colored” Methodist was changed to “Christian” Methodist at the General Conference in 1954.
St. John was destroyed by fire on April 4,1938. At the Quarterly Conference held may 1, 1938, the church requested permission to grant the trustees the power to rebuild the church. Permission was unanimously granted under the authority of J. W. Roberts, Presiding Elder and chairman of the Durham District. The trustees were granted permission to bargain, contract and rebuild as they saw fit.

In 1978 the City of Winston-Salem implemented a redevelopment project, which threatened St. John’s existing location. As part of the project, the road in of the church was reconstructed and its name was changed from Clark Avenue to Crawford Place. At this time the church purchased additional property. Once again, the “determined St. John,” with God’s blessings, prevailed. Even the bulldozers of redevelopment could not move its fierce determination. Stewardess boards 1 and 2 purchased an additional lot from the City of Winston-Salem for a larger parking lot.

Under the anointed leadership of Rev. Ronald P. Davis, St. John voted at church conference in 1993 to build a new sanctuary and family life center instead of attempting to do a renovation of the existing church building. In 1966 St. John was blessed with a new pastor, rev. Bobby R. Best, who immediately confirmed, through a vote a church conference, that the membership indeed wished to build a new church and family life center. He challenged the church to focus on building both a physical and spiritual church. This emphasis resulted in adoption of a declaration to discontinue fundraisers. Instead, Rev. Best challenged the membership to become a tithing church. Compliance by much of the membership in this effort has proven to be a blessing both to the tithers and the church.On Sunday, May 28, 2000, St. John broke ground at 650 NW Crawford Place for the new sanctuary and family life center. Construction of the new edifice began March 2001.Until demolition began St. John worship in the “old” church, conducting it final service there on Sunday February 3, 2002. Once the old structure was demolished, morning worship service and Sunday school were conducted at Gilmore’s Memorial Chapel. The administrative offices of the church and the alcohol/drug ministry were housed at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church; administrative offices were also later house at Grace United Community Church; intercessory prayer was held at Union Chapel Baptist Church; choir rehearsals, Sunday school teachers meetings and midday and even Bible studies were held at Reynolds Temple CME Church. Despite the multiple locations, membership attendance at the various services remained constant, demonstrating that St. John as a church continued to build our spiritual church as our new physical church was being built.
Construction of the new edifice was completed on March 7, 2003. Rev. Best preached the first sermon in the new edifice on Sunday, March 9, 2003. The church consecration and dedication services were held on Sunday May 18, 2003 with Bishop Charles L. Helton presiding prelate of the 7th Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church presiding.
We know that, with God’s guidance, He has allowed us to erect this most precious temple to His glory and praise. It is our desire most of all, that God’s presence is felt by each person who walks upon these consecrated grounds and enters our new edifice. St. John, with a humble spirit, will continue to serve God and humanity!