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Asbury celebrates 144th anniversary By Dr. Sylvester W. Oliver Jr. Asbury United Methodist Church will celebrate homecoming weekend, November 27-28. A
century and 44 years ago, Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church was founded
as the first African-American church in Holly Springs. The church grew
from the travails of slavery and a just war to become a prominent
influence in the city’s religious community. The
church became a beacon of light for the starving souls who wanted to
practice Christianity without fear of retribution from those who had
lawfully deprived them of the right to experience and openly practice
their Christian faith. Asbury Church was
organized in 1866, a year after slavery officially ended, and two years
before African-Americans were declared citizens of the United States
(1868). The church was named Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church in honor
of the first American Methodist bishop, William Asbury, an antislavery
advocate. The organization of the church
brought forth a new beginning of spiritual uplift and hope for more
than a newly liberated men, women and children who were living in Holly
Springs at the time. Asbury Church was
established in 1866 with 27 chartered members led by the intrepid Rev.
Moses Adams, the church’s first pastor. A year later, in 1867, the
rapidly expanding congregation had grown to 168, and by 1869 to 443
full members and 189 probationers. Some had
practiced Methodism before the church was organized; some were already
members of other Protestant faiths; however, the majority were new
converts joining the church with some Christian experience or with no
earlier religious affiliation. Nearly all knew
slavery firsthand and had initially been brought to Holly Springs from
the Atlantic east coast states of Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. Many of the original members were
devout Christians dedicated to the spiritual uplift and improvements of
the African-American community in which they lived. Services
were first held in an old frame house on Gholson Avenue, one block
south of the downtown square. It was in the vicinity where the Marshall
County Library is today. On June 19, 1866, the
Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church of New York bought
a lot on West College Street from Isaac Cunningham for $400. The
society granted the newly formed Asbury congregation the privilege to
worship at this new location in another old frame house. The first
church structure built at this site took place during the pastorate of
the Reverend C.W. Fitzgerald in 1870. In late
fall of 1866, Asbury Church opened its first school in the basement for
African-American children of the city. Assistance for opening the
school came from the local African-American and white communities, as
well as two significant organizations: the Missionary Society of the
Methodist Episcopal Church and the Freedmen’s Bureau. Following
the Civil War, both of these organizations were greatly involved with
working with African-Americans. In 1870, Asbury School became the
progenitor for Shaw University (now Rust College), and also the City
Public School for Colored of Holly Springs in 1871. Asbury
School and Hopewell School were the city’s two private schools that
merged to form the first public school for African-Americans. As the
adage goes, “From small beginnings come great things.” On
December 1, 1892, the Missionary Society deeded the church lot to the
trustees of Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church. The receiving trustees
were: H.H. Davis, J.M. Hill, J.C. Oglesby, J.W. Selby, P. Tunstall,
R.J. Tunstall, B. Wells, J. Wilkerson and W.P. Wilkins. In
1915, the present church edifice was erected under the pastorship of
Rev. E.F. Scarborough, the 19th pastor of Asbury Church. The church was
built at an estimated cost of $3,500. By 1917, the church was debt
free. While
the church was under construction, the members worshipped at Miller
Institute, located behind where Big Star is today. Asbury
Church is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. As a
historic landmark, Asbury United Methodist Church is famous for
providing the African-American community with religious, educational,
and political leaders as well as a variety of professionals. During
the Civil Rights era, the church served as the base for many community
meetings. Today, 144 years later, Asbury Church is still serving the
Holly Springs community. Its handsome A-shape roof and added
classrooms, gym, library, pastor’s study and kitchen are favorite
locations for many religious and social occasions. Over
the years, members of Asbury Church have been part of the political
arena in Holly Springs, and have provided guidance when it was time to
act on behalf of the African-American community. Through
the years, church members have held elected and appointed positions at
the local, state and national levels. Among these members were Hiram
Revels, the first African-American U.S. senator; A.K. Davis,
Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi during Reconstruction; William
Dogan, city alderman of Holly Springs during Reconstruction; Perry W.
Howard, assistant to the Attorney General of the U.S.; Eddie L. Smith
Jr., the first African-American mayor of Holly Springs; Robert Collins,
alderman for Holly Springs; Kelvin Buck, state representative and city
alderman; Clencie Cotton, city and county attorney; Bobby Adkins,
sheriff of Marshall County; Judy Smith, superintendent of Holly Springs
Separate School District; and Robert Pearson, chief of police for Holly
Springs. In the early years of the church,
members of Asbury Church were among the movers and shakers in the
African-American community and had direct access to prominent decision
makers. The inspired and determined Methodist
leader, Moses Adams (1830-1915), was particularly significant in how
his members of the church saw themselves and the need to help the
fledgling African-American community. Motivated
by religious principals and a deep conviction to educate and uplift his
people, Rev. Adams’ personal style served as the religious and
political model for Asbury Methodist Church. Today,
this model is called the “community action model.” Under this model,
personal relationships exist between the members of the church and a
conglomerate of bureaucrats, politicians and heads of local and state
government to address the needs and concerns of the local community. This
is the proud legacy of Asbury United Methodist Church, the oldest
African-American congregation in North Mississippi. This weekend,
November 27 and 28, Asbury United Methodist Church will celebrate its
Homecoming Weekend and invites you to participate in its banquet on
Saturday night at 6 p.m. and worship service on Sunday morning at 10
a.m.
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