Literacy among Negroes during that period was rare, which probably accounts for there being very little written documentation of how Methodist Societies developed.  It is however, known that the churches which were later incorporated in the African Methodist Episcopal Church through the efforts of Rev. Blakmere did form the backbone of the oldest Negro churches of this denomination in Ohio.

 

Meager information acquired from A.M.E. Church archives reveal that in 1819 there were fewer than 300 free Negroes in the vicinity of Columbus, Zanesville, and Springfield.  Those religiously inclined gathered regularly in their humble homes, barns, sheds, or other available places for worship.

 

Negroes, as members of the African American community were referred to in those years, who resided in the Worthington area worshipped with the Columbus Methodist Society for years.  Since the founding of Worthington in 1803, the church doors of all historical denominations have been opened to African-Americans.

As the population of free black people increased in the Worthington community, so did the desire for a church of their own.  At first, prayer meetings were held from house to house, and later both church and Sunday School services were conducted in the home of Mrs. Millie Alston (about 1890).

 

In 1896, Peter Banks (grandfather of Mrs. Martha Todd and great-grandfather of Mrs. Janet Wallace) felt the need to organize a church for black people in Worthington.  Under his leadership he attracted four men, D.H. Taborn, Charles B. Kiner, J.T. Horton, and James Burkhead, who worked diligently to provide a home church for Worthington’s black residents.  The church growth under these founding fathers was so rapid that a larger meeting place was soon needed.  Thus, the Worthington Town Hall served as a meeting place in 1897.

 

Later, on September 24, 1897, a lot was purchased from Mrs. Millie Alston for $50.  A building was moved to the lot and converted into a church, which was then named Bethel A.M.E. Church.  It was to be a community church, but in order to get ministers, the church had to belong to a Conference.  Reverend W. T. Maxwell of Mt. Vernon A.M.E. Church of Columbus, Ohio came to help.  By then, there were many black families residing in the community.

 

By 1914, the membership had outgrown the old church which led to the construction of the current chapel – built by Mr. Hard, a local carpenter.  The new structure was dedicated the same year and named St. John A.M.E. Church.

 

For many years, the church used oil lamps for lighting and coal stoves for heat.  Over the ensuing years, several improvements have been made to the original building structure.  The most prominent was the inclusion of a full paneled and tile floor basement, which features a kitchen, two bathrooms and an eating area.  Central air and heating were installed, and the upstairs are was remodeled to add new lighting fixtures, padded pews and carpeting.  The church has continued to grow in its membership, many of whom have made great contributions to its structural design.  The most notable was Mr. Louis Butler, who installed the wiring for the electricity.

 

In most recent years the church purchased three additional properties; three houses located on the same street as the church.  The first home purchased in 1995 is adjacent to the church on the south side.  It is currently used as an annex, equipped with state-of-the-art office equipment and is often used to host various church related activities as well as Sunday school classes.  The second and third houses, located across from the church and adjacent to the annex purchased in 1998 and 2001 respectively, are temporarily being rented as investments until more specific plans are identified for their use.

 

St. John A.M.E. Church has always been an active church with a dedicated membership and pastoral staff and has never, at any time, had its doors closed.  For many years, it was on a circuit with Hilliard, Westerville, and Plain City; all of which have now closed; the last being Westerville in 1962.

 

Some of the former pastors of St. John A.M.E. Church are:  Reverends Thomas Page*, D. V. Moses *, Thomas E. Liggins, Herman Perkins*, Floyd Alexander, Vance Milligan*, Winston Hill, Ralph Newell, Wilfred Bristol, McCoy Ransom*, Richard Cox, Earl Thompson, James M. Tate, Jr.*, Robert Hunter, William Callian, and Hurdie Billingslea, Jr.