Founding of Centenary Chapel and School (1865)

In 1865, the Freedmen’s Aid Commission of the Methodist episcopal Church sent Rev. C. Hawkins to open a school and church, which began simultaneously on Raburn Avenue (now Third Street).  Since Methodism in America was one hundred years old at the time, the church was christened “Centenary”, as were all Methodist churches founded that year.  From the beginning, old Centenary Chapel, as it was commonly known, made a definite impact on the community. Students of the school became some of Memphis’ first Black teachers.

The Memphis Massacre and Rebuilding the Church

In May of 1866, animosity between white and African Americans in Memphis erupted into one of the worst incidents of racial violence in the country.  Many of the black churches and all of the black schools were burned to the ground by angry white mobs in the Memphis Massacre.  Despite this, by January 1, 1867, Centenary Chapel had been rebuilt and was occupied. 

Shortly after, some communicants, influenced by the perceptive ideas of Richard Allen, left the body, and established what is now St. Andrews A.M.E. Church.  Those who wished to remain in the Methodist Episcopal church body agreed to move and moved to its next Centenary location on South Street (formerly Calhoun, now G. E. Patterson).  Rev Rowlett became the pastor in 1868.  By 1908,  under the leadership of Rev. H. W. Key, Centenary had a membership of 450, with property valued at $35,000.   Revs. Fields and Thomas served after him.

Establishing a Permanent Home on Mississippi Boulevard

During the tenure of Rev. Chavis (1913-1915),Centenary purchased a parcel of land on Mississippi Blvd., in 1913.  A church (basement) was built there in 1921.   Rev. E. J. Cox served as pastor from 1921-1932.  His wife, Mrs. Edith Cox, established the first kindergarten for black children in the city, on a lot directly behind the church on Alston,  in the early 1920s.  The first black Boy Scout troop was organized at Centenary on August 28, 1928.  The church continued to prosper and by the 1930s was a powerful force.  Rev. Brown was pastor in 1932-1933. The 68th Session of the Tennessee Annual  Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church was held in Memphis in October of 1933, with Centenary serving as the host church, under Rev. E. O. Woolfolk (1933-1935).  Some of the meetings were held at nearby Booker T. Washington High School. 

The Golden Hour and Community Empowerment

After worshipping in the church basement for 16 years, the sanctuary was completed at the Mississippi property, in 1937, under Rev. Harry B. Gibson (1935-1940).  Racial tensions surfaced during this time and irate whites threatened to bomb the church.   Rev. Gibson,  also the president of the local branch of the NAACP, took a stand and guarded with men of the church and guarded the doors to ensure that the threat was not fulfilled.  On September 19, 1939, he launched “The Golden Hour” at Centenary, held each Sunday for 12 weeks, to empower the community. 

Centenary continued in fruitful ministry during the 1940s and 1950s, providing outstanding contributions in education,  service and the arts, led by Rev. Shaw (1940-1945), Rev. H. H. Jones (1945-1953), and Rev. D. M. Grisham (1953-1961).

Centenary and the Civil Rights Movement

In the 1960s, Centenary’s role in the community, was vital, led by its 33 year old pastor, Dr. James  Lawson.  Dr. Lawson taught non-violence tactics to national movement leaders and led many movement sit-ins.  Youth  members in the church were urged to become social activists, and being committed to action, made lasting contributions to the cause.  In 1966, Centenary served as the site for strategic planning to ensure that James Meredith’s 220 mile March Against Fear, from Memphis to Jackson, Mississippi continued after Meredith, the first black student to enroll at the University of Mississippi, was shot.  Centenary member, Atty. A. W. Willis, Jr., was Meredith’s local lawyer.  Moving to its present location at 584 E. McLemore Avenue in 1967, the church quickly became a positive presence and was viewed as a center for civil rights action. 

The Sanitation Workers’ Strike and the Legacy of Dr. King

When longstanding tensions between black sanitation workers and city officials erupted in February of 1968, Rev. Lawson held meetings with the mayor of Memphis to urge him to provide decent working conditions.  Dangerous working conditions did not improve and the sanitation workers met at Centenary to call for a strike.  Dr. Lawson invited Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to come to the city to provide aid to the sanitation workers. Dr. King was shot and killed on the second floor balcony of the Lorraine Hotel on April 4, 1968,before he could lead a second march in support of the workers. Centenary member, Robert Lewis, Jr., prepared Dr. King’s body for burial, at his funeral home on Vance Street. 

After the tragic death of Dr. King, several national news agencies broadcast Centenary church  services to the world.  His death also led to the founding of Memphis Area Legal Services at Centenary, by a group of black activist attorneys. On April 23, 1968, Centenary became a part of the United Methodist Church.  Dr. Lawson served as pastor from 1961-1974.

Expansion, Stability, and New Ministries

During the 1970s and 1980s, the church excelled under the leadership of Rev. E. E. Buford (1974-1977); Rev. J. K. Shelton (1977-1980), who became the first black Superintendent of the Memphis-Asbury District (1980-1983); Rev. W. Maurice King (1980-1982); Rev. Dogan Williams (1982-1985),who cleared the church’s property mortgage; and Rev. Gary Wilson  (1985-1990).  During the pastoral tenure of, Dr. Herbert Lester, Jr. (1990-2008), the nonprofit organization, Centenary Ministries, was established; the church’s youth operated a pizza company, and a family life center was built in 1995.  The architects for the building were Centenary members, Clair Jones and Vincent Walker. Rev. Kenneth  Edmondson was pastor from   2008-2011. 

Dr.  Deborah  Smith  served  the  church  from 2011-2017, as  pastor.  Rev. Roger Hopson led the church, as pastor, from July 2017 until his untimely death in October  2022.   Both  held   fast  to  tradition  while  moving  forward in  the  spirit  of  service,  adding  a food pantry, a family clothes closet,  and a  summer reading camp.    Dr.  Smith  was  also interim  pastor  from January—June of 2023.    Rev.  Keith Caldwell,  activist  and  former  NAACP  president  in Nashville, was appointed to Centenary on July 1, 2023.   He is  committed to continuing the legacy of service.