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St. James United Methodist Church
"The Church Where Everybody is Somebody and Jesus Christ is Lord"
Our Vision, Our Mission, Our Calling
"The Hands and Feet of Christ"
Our mission at St. James United Methodist Church is to make sure God’s mission is accomplished through the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we reach out in the community by connecting with others and the community through programs of nurture, outreach and witness.
Our Story
A Trip Down Memory Lane: The History of St. James United Methodist Church
By: Pam Dankins
Historic
The roots of St. James United Methodist Church dates to the late 1870’s. A group of families organized the first fellowship of St. James under a brush arbor in what was then known as the Cotton Gin Port community. Following the construction of the Kansas City, Memphis, and Birmingham Railroad in 1887, Amory was established and incorporated the businesses and residents of Cotton Gin Port, a neighboring town.
On April 28, 1888, the Trustees, of what was then known as The Methodist Episcopal Church of Amory, purchased two lots: Lot 8 and Lot 9 in Block H. This property was situated in the West section of the town. These visionary trustees, namely minsters L. Walls, M. Phillips, A.S. Spruell, E. Dawkins, R. Shumpert, F. Westbrooks, and D. Vandeford, oversaw the construction of a House of Worship. The simple, wood-framed building remained for several years. During this time, the church was renamed St. James Methodist Episcopal Church, and the 1920 General Conference authorized women to receive local licenses. The Upper Mississippi Conference was the first conference to grant a local license to an African American lady. On June 12, 1920, Mrs. Mary E. Jones of Indianola was licensed to preach by the Greenwood District Superintendent J.W. Golden. She was ordained “Local Deacon” on January 3, 1926, in Amory at St. James.
In 1924, as the town and population grew, so did the membership of St. James UMC. Pastor N.R. Clay and the congregation saw the need for a new and larger House of Worship. The Trustees at that time, Ministers J. W. Sullivan, Dee Clifton, Louis Tubb, Calvin Atkins, W.B. Brandon, Felix White, D.U. Cooper, John James, and E.D. Whitfield purchased from United Woodmen, Lots 1 and 2 in Block I. This property was located across the street from where they were presently worshipping. Construction began and the beautiful, spacious edifice was completed by the end of January 1925 with the first service being held in the newly constructed sanctuary on February 10, 1925. Instrumental in securing financing for this project were the Building Fund Committee members: A.L. Howell, G. Young, J. Butler, E. Hill, A. Braylock, P. Sykes, H. Logan, Levy Tubb, Ira Burdine and John Cook.
With a balcony and full basement, this building served as St. James' Worship Center for 49 years. Nevertheless, the Depression Era of the 1930's caused hardships nationwide. Among many churches in the conference, this prominent church was unable to fully meet its mortgage payments and some of its financial obligations. As a result of trusting and God and having faith, St. James was awarded a financial lift by surrounding Methodist connectional churches in the conference. Within a short timeframe, St. James achieved debt freedom through a debt cancellation program offered by the Conference.
On November 2013, 1940, that year’s Annual Conference, which celebrated the Golden Anniversary of the Upper Mississippi Conference was convened at St. James under the leadership of Bishop R.E. Jones. The Conference recognized the remaining four living men who were admitted, on trial, to the Conference 50 years earlier. St. James paster, Rev. C. W. Butler was in that group. However, he was unable to attend the Conference due to illness and being confined to bed. Sadly, on November 28, 1940, Pastor Butler passed away two weeks later. The 1946 Annual Conference was also held at St. James with Rev. J.L. Glenn serving as pastor.
At the 1952 Annual Conference, the Youth of St. James performed a dramatic presentation entitled, “The Family Crisis.” The youth included Orene Crawford, Barbara McKinney, Willie B. Crump, and Jermone McKinney. In 1956, under the leadership of Rev. H.G. Montgomery, it was reported to that year’s Annual Conference that St. James was one of the largest congregations in the Upper Mississippi Conference with a total of 541 on the roll and with 471 active members. That year all financial claims were paid in full, and it was also reported that $1000 had been raised toward the purchase of a new organ.
This milestone was a huge accomplishment for St. James; however, in 2021 and 2022, St. James was able to achieve another milestone pertaining to this yearly event. One of the many links to the Annual Conference through the church is the Finance Team of St. James UMC. The team is tasked with paying certain bills that come through the annual conference such as the Conference Mission Shares, District Mission Shares, Church Insurance, and the Pastor’s Medical Benefits.
Secretary of the Finance Team Thelma Freeman contributes to the church by writing checks for bills, making sure the bank book is totaled, and completing a monthly finance report. Freeman said the church was able to pay off the Conference Mission Shares and District Mission Shares for year 2021 within a year period and 2022 within a 6-month period. The numerical amount of the Conference and District Shares were $16,046.00. Because St. James UMC was able to pay our shares based on the Annual Conference requests of our local church, this puts us in good standing with the Annual Conference.
“It is a blessing for our church that we were able to do this including paying other bills and obligations to keep the church within good standings,” Freeman said.
The success story St. James UMC members can tell now is another milestone for the church to relish in. However, in 1956, due to the success during that time the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged in 1968 and became St. James United Methodist Church.
The first Gospel Choir in the Mississippi Conference was organized at St. James by Rev. D.T. Jackson with Mrs. Audrey Lee Hodges and Mrs. Barbara McKinney Bruce as pianists. St. James also was the first church to have an active Young Adult Ministry. In 1972, the first Lay Speakers to become certified in the district were St. James members Mrs. Mary H. Bailey and Mrs. Yvonne Marshall.
The need for another worship facility also became evident in the early 70’s. Under the leadership of Rev. D.T. Jackson, a new and modern, a bit smaller facility was built directly next door to the 1924 structure. This project was completed in 1974. Trustees were Clayton Hogan, James Young, William G. Owens, H.H. Hogan, Willie Mae Braylock, Gertrude Scott Devers, Ford Rogers, and Allen Hopkins. The Building Committee was also instrumental in this effort. They were Mrs. Offie Park, Mrs. Helen Bailey, William G. Owens, James Young, Ford Rogers, Allen Hopkins, Joe Smith, Harry Swan, T.I. Smith, Vozell Gilleylen and Mrs. Katie L. White.
In 1975, while under the pastorate of Rev. W.G. Prueitt and the Indiana United Methodist Conference mission team from Elkhart Indiana came to Amory to construct a new parsonage for St. James. This was done at no cost to St. James. Along with volunteers from St. James, the mission team was a true blessing to our congregation and made lasting friendships. The newly constructed parsonage was dedicated on September 28, 1975, in a ceremony conducted by Bishop Mack Stokes.
By 1983, nine years after completion of the new church building and under the leadership of Rev. Judge R. Clark, the mortgage was paid off and a Service of Dedication was held on Sunday, January 16, 1983. This service was conducted by our very own Son of St. James. The Reverend Dr. Merlin D. Conoway, Superintendent of the Tupelo District.
As 1995 approached, St. James once again experienced growing pains. The need for expansion was evident. In addition to having a very active membership, St. James was visible, heavily involved and invested in the community with programs centered around giving to the community. Because of this, the church didn’t have adequate spacing to accommodate the growing congregation and the church ministry programs and goals the church were spearheading and offering to the community.
While under the leadership of Rev. Benjamin Nelson, a church conference was convened on February 5, 1995. Most of the members attending the conference voted in favor of a complete renovation and additions to the present structure. This project was overseen by trustees: Joe W. Smith, Ozell Marshall, Marty Polk, Lee Burta Rachel, Samuel Hughes, Joe Gunn, Jackie Lowe and Henerent Halimon. The Building Committee included William G. Owens, Mary H. Bailey, Marty Polk, Drussell Bailey, Sophia Ivory, Melvin McKinney, Ozell Marshall, Joe W. Smith, and Raymond Bailey.
On this project, trustees had to secure financing for the project and work alongside Pastor Nelson and the building committee. They had to oversee the construction aspects of the project and ensure that it was being completed as contracted. Marty Polk, one of the many trustees listed in the project was more so heavily involved on the Building Committee team. As well as being the contractor's and architect's primary contact person, he was also the point of contact for a majority of the vendors including: MAP Electronics and Chancellor Manufacturing.
With both the trustees and building committee setting out to accomplish the same goal of growing the church, Polk began visiting churches with similar architectural designs in North Mississippi. In order to bring back what would work for St. James, he wanted ideas to incorporate. Several churches that piqued his interest was designed by local architect John Ward of JHW Studios. In the end, Mr. Ward was chosen as the architect, and James Hunter of Hunter Construction was chosen as the contractor. He presented the project plans to the special session of the church conference conducted by District Superintendent M. D. Conoway for approval. Additionally, he presented the project plans to the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church's Conference Building and Grounds committee.
Polk said how this project was “another one of God's answered prayers that was right on time”. Seeing how himself and other members helped plant the seed and watching the fruition of their labor appear was a “joy beyond measure”.
“I knew what we were doing was going to have a huge impact on our congregation, how the ministry could and would grow, and how much more St. James could impact the community. With us having the right facilities, we could help facilitate our mission of being that beacon of light and ‘The Church Where Everybody IS Somebody and Jesus IS Lord!’,” Polk said.
The cost of this project was $280,000,00. The renovations and additions were completed by January 1996 and a Service of Consecration was conducted on March 17, 1996.
2007 saw the retirement of Pastor Nelson and the appointment of Rev. Johniel Henry to St. James. Prior to his arrival, the trustees purchased a home to be used as the official pastoral residence of the St. James Charge. Bishop Hope Morgan-Ward, the first female to lead a major denomination in Mississippi, was the special guest preacher for our Palm Sunday service in 2009.
With the appointment in September 2012 of Bishop James E. Swanson as the first African American to lead the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church in Mississippi, one of his first visits as our leader was to North Mississippi and St. James. He was the special guest speaker for our First Sunday Communion service in November. In 2011, under the guidance of Bro. Joe Gunn and the Senior Adult Ministry, the Soup Kitchen was established. St. James also established an after-school tutorial program.
Over the years, St. James has hosted United Methodist Bishops, other notable clergy and laity leaders, a college president, world-renown recording artists, including the Rust College A’Cappelia Choir, the Steller Award nominated Pilgrim Jubilees, Miss America 1997, and leading medical and business professionals. St. James has also hosted many highly acclaimed and publicized cultural services and workshops including Black History, Youth Excellence for Education, City-wide Inter-denominational revival/services, Music Workshops, and District Conference meetings and workshops. Now, they work towards giving back to the community.
