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St. John AME Pastors  1855–not available
Rev. James R. Sterrit was appointed by Bishop Quinn as Missionary to the city of Baltimore, Maryland. It was Rev. Sterrit who secured St. John's first place of worship, a former blacksmith shop on Tessier Street in Baltimore .
Dates not available
Rev. George T. Watkins was the first person licensed to preach from the founding church on Tessier Street. He formalized and stabilized the Mission and built a new church on Tessier and Orchard Streets, a location that still serves as a church today. Rev. George T. Watkins was the seventh pastor of St. John AME Church. 1873
Rev. Jacob Nicholson - It was under the administration of Rev. Jacob Nicholson that the Mission , operating from its new structure, received formal recognition from the AME Conference and officially became St. John AME Church . Dates not available
It was under the leadership of Rev. O.D. Robinson that the second most spacious building on Lexington Street was purchased and dedicated to God and African Methodism in October, 1894. This location served as St. John's place of worship under the leadership of 13 pastors. Dates not available
Rev. Monoko initiated a fund to purchase a new building, but his term expired before an agreement could be reached to purchase the facility on Carrollton Avenue. 1928–1935
It was during the pastorate of Rev. E.D. Rice that the Carrollton Avenue facility was purchased (our current church location). 1937–1942
Rev. Henry R. Tomlin came to St. John AME in 1937, and introduced to the city of Baltimore the first Christmas Candlelight Service. By 1942, the year he left St. John, he had organized and orchestrated a 600 voice choir that performed at the St. John AME Annual Christmas Candlelight Service held at the Fifth Regiment Armory. All of Baltimore, and surrounding areas, looked forward to attending this wonderful event. 1942–1949
Rev. Harrison J. Bryant (now Bishop Bryant) is known for his gallant leadership of St. John AME Church after it was completely destroyed by fire in 1943, eight months after his appointment to St. John. Rev. Bryant (against the odds) organized resources to rebuild the church during wartime (WWII) when there were limited resources and labor available. 1949–1965
Rev. Isaac M. Gray pastored St. John for 16 years. Under his leadership, the church was renovated, received new pews, a lighted cross, a water fountain, plus a grand piano and choir loft furniture. 1965–1970
Rev. J.S. Grant served as a loving and fatherly pastor until his sudden demise in July of 1970. St. John recently received a substantial endowment from the Grant family to be utilized for structural renovations, furnishings for the Christian Education Center, plus equipment materials and supplies for the Stewardess Board. The remainder of the endowment is allocated to additional projects. 1970–1989
Rev. Benjamin S. Foust succeeded Rev. Grant. St. John made spiritual and material progress under Rev. Foust's administration: the first AME church to purchased a Mini Bus; completed renovations of the sanctuary; purchased land between St. John and Emmanuel Church; organized the Cathedral Choir (one Baltimore's finest choirs); established a comprehensive outreach ministry and soup kitchen, food pantry, clothes closet, rent and utilities subsidy, welfare advocacy and crisis counseling. 1989–2004
Further renovations were spear-headed under the administration of Rev. Maurice T. Wilson, including the installation of the church's beautiful stained glass windows, depicting the Four Horsemen (the founding fathers of the African Methodist Episcopal Church). 2004–Present
Rev. Dr. Peggy E. Wall was appointed by Bishop Vinton R. Anderson as the first female pastor to the historic St. John AME Church. Today the congregation has a vision of being a “growing church, growing people.” Dr. Wall has led the church to grow spiritually, numerically, and financially. Each day, St. John AME Church rejoices in its accomplishments and praises God for its many blessings. As St. John Church moves into the 21 st Century, its people will continue to be steadfast as they build to the glory of God! |
