RICHARD ALLEN: APOSTLE OF FREEDOM

Richard Allen was the founder of Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church and the first elected and consecrated bishop in the A.M.E. Church. Below is a short documentary about his life and the beginning of the A.M.E. Church.

 WAYMAN CHAPEL’S HISTORY

FIRST PERIOD 1833-1867

The first Black church and the first A.M.E. Church in Dayton, Ohio is recorded in the 1833 Minutes of the Ohio Annual Conference of the A.M.E. Church, as being in the Hillsboro Circuit and Rev. James Byrd, the appointed Pastor. Earlier a local preacher, Father Willis, and a small group of men and women felt the need to worship God according to their beliefs and adopted the Doctrine of the A.M.E. Church. The occasional visit of ministers was considered a blessing and a time of great joy for those who thirsted for the gospel. Notice of services was by word of mouth when some good souls would go from door to door announcing “Preaching tonight! The preacher is here!”

On 25 September 1838, Trustees Thomas Moss, Coleman Freeman and Rev. Wiley Reynolds purchased property for their new church in East Dayton near the intersection of Bainbridge Avenue and Dayton Towers Drive. They built a small frame building for worship, and in 1840, it was dedicated by Bishop Paul Quinn and named in his honor (Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church). Following a night of looting, vandalizing and beatings by a white mob on Monday, 25 January 1841, many of the colored citizens, fearful for their lives, fled the city and the congregation ceased to function as it had previously.

Few Minutes of Ohio Annual Conferences are available between 1840 and 1874. However, the A.M.E. Church in Dayton is recorded in the 1854 Minutes as part of the Hamilton Circuit. Other churches in this circuit were: Hamilton, Palmyra, Lebanon and Xenia. The Dayton membership was listed as eight and Rev. Jeremiah Bowman pastor.

SECOND PERIOD 1867 – 1923

In 1867, a second organization of the congregation occurred under Rev. John Hogan. Members held services in their homes, the Third U.B. Church (white) and other sites. On 12 April 1868, The Sabbath School was organized in Dickey’s Hall on East Fifth Street, Rev. J. W. Devine, Pastor. Property, near the southwest corner of Eaker and Perry Streets was acquired on 19 June 1872 for a new church. Under the pastorate of Rev. John G. Yeiser, the church became a Mission and was dedicated in May 1873 by Bishop Alexander Payne as the Eaker Street A.M.E. Church.

It progressed to a Station in 1879 under the Rev. William T. Maxwell, who remodeled the church in 1882. Under a new pastor, the Rev. Phillip Tolliver, the church was rededicated 5 November 1882 by Bishop James Alexander Shorter. At this time, the church became Wayman Chapel A.M.E. Church, named for the seventh Bishop of the A.M.E. Church, Alexander Washington Wayman. Even today, the church on Eaker Street is known as the Eaker Street A.M.E. church, Eaker Street Church or Wayman A.M.E. Church on Eaker Street. Reported Full Membership in 1874: 55; in 1900: 195.

The members were proud of their new church and its programs to meet their needs as well as those of the community and objectives of the Connectional Church. Among the members was the well-known poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and his mother, Matilda. The Sunday School Department graduated the first class in Teachers’ Training, within the State of Ohio on 25 June 1903. The church remained on Eaker Street for fifty-one years. Reported Full Membership in 1920: 332.

THIRD PERIOD 1923 – 1963

Under the leadership of the Rev. Oliver W. Childers (1919-1927), the congregation worked hard to build a new church which would be closer to homes of members, have adequate facilities for young people and serve the needs of the community. Property located on the northeast comer of West Fifth and Bank Streets was purchased 21 September 1922 for a new structure. It was a glorious occasion when the pastor led his congregation from Eaker Street to their new church on 14 October 1923. Many of our present members have fond memories of the Fifth and Bank Street church which had the reputation of being one of the most modern facilities of its kind owned by colored persons in Ohio.

The depression years were financially difficult. Several trustees and stewards signed mortgages on their homes and other properties to keep the church doors open. The threat of foreclose was a constant worry and concern to the membership. They worked diligently and earnestly to help pay the bills and financial obligations of their beloved church. In 1937 under the leadership of the Rev. Pleasant A. Nichols, succeeded by the Rev. Thomas W. Chryer and the Rev. Granville W. Reed, Jr., the officers and members launched a program to free the church of debt. Under Pastor Reed, the mortgage was burned 10 September 1944, the Cathedral Choir was organized and a new electric Wicks Pipe Organ was purchased.

Membership during World War II expanded rapidly, as persons living in rural areas and southern states found employment with the Federal Government and automotive industries in the Dayton vicinity.

In 1949, the Rev. Wallace M. Wright, Sr. was appointed pastor of Wayman. Pastor Wright, his wife Harriet and Professor Antonio Haskell, Director of Music at Wayman, were appointed to a Connectional Committee of nine persons responsible for the 1954 Revision of the A.M.E. Church Hymnal. The church was redecorated and the parsonage on Horace Street refurbished under Pastor Wright’s leadership. Reported Full membership in 1958: 751.

FOURTH PERIOD 1963 – Present

Following Pastor Wright’s death in 1960, the Rev. Carlton Napoleon Flanigan, a son of Wayman, was appointed to serve the congregation. Under his leadership the church moved on Mother’s Day, 12 May 1963, from the Fifth and Bank Streets location to the present site at 3317 Hoover Avenue. This change became necessary due to the construction of a new interstate highway. Because of Pastor Flanigan’s energetic guidance, new organizations such as the Gospel Chorus, the Women’s Civic Association and the Inspirational Choir were formed. Projects completed during his tenure include purchasing of rental properties, pew cushions, a lift chair for the handicapped, a Steinway Grand Piano, a van and modern office equipment; construction of a multipurpose building named in his honor; carpeting the sanctuary; remodeling the kitchen, restrooms and the pastor’s study; blacktopping the parking lot and installing air conditioning in the sanctuary. Rev. Flanigan faithfully served the congregation for twenty-five years.

Bishop Richard Allen Hildebrand appointed the Rev. Dr. William P, DeVeaux to succeed Rev. Flanigan in October 1985. On arrival in Dayton, the Rev. DeVeaux gladly accepted the challenge of the last objective on Rev. Flanigan’s agenda: purchase of a new parsonage. His tenure was shortened by a call to pastor the Metropolitan A.M.E. Church in Washington, D.C.

The Rev. Wilbur McLaren Lowe, Jr. was asked to serve Wayman in July 1986. He readily accepted the appointment after pastoring in his homeland of Bermuda for nine years. He and his family were the first family to live in our beautiful new parsonage. During his tenure at Wayman he completed Doctoral Studies at United Theological Seminary and was considered a community pastor who was continually involved in social, economic and spiritual matters. An 8:00 a.m. Worship Service, a Prayer and Anointing Evening Service and a Prison Ministry were added to Wayman’s spiritual programs under his leadership. Also, the parsonage mortgage was paid. Community outreach was one of Rev. Lowe’s top priorities, with successful implementation of a Food and Clothing Pantry and Youth in Road Warriors for Christ Ministries.

From 1996 to 2005 Wayman was blessed by the faithful service of the Rev. Dr. Frederick A. Wright, Sr., a gifted speaker who delivered dynamic sermons and stimulated church growth.

Bishop Robert V. Webster appointed the Rev. Dr. Ronald L. Glenn in 2005. Under his leadership, we expanded many of our ministries and continued Wayman’s mission of service to the Dayton community.

On November 23, 2013, Bishop McKinley Young appointed Pastor Gerald A. Cooper to serve Wayman. We pray that God will continue to bless our pastor and the Wayman Church Family.