EAST MAPLE STREET CHRISTIAN CHURCH

OUR HISTORY

 

A HISTORY OF EAST MAPLE STREET CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Disciples of Christ)

            The forefathers and foremothers of East Maple Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) believed in the love of Jesus while still wearing the shackles of slavery.  When they heard the good news about Jesus Christ, who came to earth to die for them, they rejoiced and became his followers.

            Jesus was the living God who came into earthly existence in human form.  He did not come to earth in royal splendor with the power and privileges of an earthly King.  He was a poor Jewish carpenter and although a few men and women followed him mostly of the people in his time treated him badly, mocked him, spat on him, whipped him, and eventually crucified him.

            When our African-American ancestors heard about this Jesus it is no small wonder why they identified with him and rejoiced in his resurrection power to save all that believed on him.  The injustice of slavery and its horrors to people of color would show very well sin’s evil hand.

            But our ancestors believed in the hope of a life free from the shackles of slavery and sin’s evil with a magnificent affirmation of the justice of God, looking toward the final judgment with celebration.  The forefathers and foremothers of East Maple Street Christian Church did not have a church building to worship in.  So they gathered under a big tree in the woods and sang hymns and praise God.  You might have heard them sing:

                        “In that great gittin’ up morning fare ye well, fare ye well.

                        “In that great gittin’ up morning fare ye well, fare ye well.”

Elder Sam Warfield, a past Elder of the East Maple Street Christian Church, wrote some years back about the gathering in the woods.  He wrote the following:

            “Fifteen years before a permanent church house was found, during the dark days of slavery when colored people had no place to worship, they would get together under a big tree in the woods and sing hymns and praise God.  Some of the good slave owners heard of (these gatherings of praise in the woods) and attended the meetings.  They were impressed and asked the slaves to attend their meetings.  Each slave holder would let his slave attend his church.”

            Bro. H. M. Parrish, a white Christian preacher, allowed the slaves to join the Universal Christian Church.  In 1860 Bro. Parrish died. In 1861 the members and officers had a misunderstanding as to how the slaves were to be treated.  Some thought the slaves should be allowed to attend their meetings but snot allowed to join their churches.  One of the Deacons resigned and took his slaves with him.

“Among these slaves was Isaac Wilson, who had a membership in the white Christian Church.[i]  Later he was called to preach.  He organized and founded a church known as the Union Church.  This being the only church for African-Americans, three different denominations of African-Americans (Christians, Methodists, and Baptist) worshiped together.”

            In 1867, the Baptists and Methodists having purchased their present sites in Nicholasville began worship in their own buildings.  In 1891, Rev. Alfred Merchant came to pastor for us.  He saw the need for a new building.  He got all the members together and purchased the ground on East Maple Street, our present church home.  Since then the church has purchased more land, built a parsonage, save many souls, and helped many a boys and girls through school.

            The following have served as Pastors: Isaac Wilson, George Williams, Malcolm Ayers, Alfred Merchant, Anderson Wilker, T. S. Nelson, W. H. Brown, W. H. Huffman, A H. Harris, W. H. Dickerson, B. J. Bailey, W. M. Richards, C. H. Dickerson, H. D. Griffin, J. T. Green, Richard Euell, R. R. Everett, G. A. Bundy, L. L. Dickerson, W. M. Owens, R. L. Saunders, R. E. Hancock, J. T. Moore, Rev. Hicks, Rev. Kemp, and Rev. Hall.

            Elder Warfield, who wrote this history some years ago, went on to write that “serving as Elders are Paul Thomas and Norman Overstreet.  Deacons: Mexico Hayden, Sr., Mexico Hayden, Jr., and William Caise, Sr; Willey Lee Railey is clerk.

            Since Elder Warfield wrote this history, the following Pastors have served East Maple Street Christian Church: Rev. Charles A. Black, Pastor Michael Harris, Rev. Darrell Hayden, and the present minister are Pastor Harry Gopaul.  The Deacons are Brother’s John Burdette and Bruce Hayden.

 

 

[i] In 1988, Elder Paul Thomas told this writer that a white slave owner left the Nicholasville Christian Church and helped his slaves begin a new African-American church which eventually came to be names the East Maple Street Christian Church.  This fact stated by Elder Thomas seems likely to point to Isaac Wilson as being the slave of the slave owner from Nicholasville Christian Church.