For the last century, Payne Memorial A.M.E. Church has used its rich history to develop into one of the most progressive and spiritually sound institutions in the Mid-Atlantic.

1897

With a master stroke God’s divine workmanship delivered forth a Great Branch of Zion as a mission that would later be called Payne Memorial.

Payne Memorial inherited a great legacy in its name, that of one of the heroes of the church --Bishop Daniel A. Payne--  a
distinguished nineteenth-century gentleman and scholar who gave noble direction and pious inspiration to the AME church.

Payne Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church was officially organized the second Sunday in July 1897 by Bishop James A. Handy, who acted as the first pastor.  The first congregants worshipped in a small building on Whatcoat Street. The membership was relatively small, but not it’s ideal for the future of the church.  This was sublimely exalted, and each and every member worked assiduously for its realization.  On Sundays the choir rang with joy.  During the ensuing weeks neophyte clubs began to appear.

After three months, Bishop Handy appointed the Reverend W. C. Price as interim pastor.  He became the second minister to assume the pastoral duties of the church.

On the second Sunday in October 1897 the Reverend James G. Martin became the third appointed pastor of Payne Memorial and served the church until the close of the conference year 1898.  He has been described as “small in stature, but an otherwise powerful personage.”  During his initial pastorate of seven months, fifty-six members were added to the church roll.  The activity and dedication to an ideal were ennobling, and other churches used Payne Memorial as their model.

1898

The Reverend A. D. Holder succeeded the Reverend Martin as fourth pastor of Payne Memorial, and he served one eventful year.

1899

From 1899 to 1902 the Reverend M. W. Travers was the fifth appointed pastor, and the church membership swelled and activities intensified during the three years of his administration.

1902

In 1902 the Reverend W. E. Arnold, became the sixth pastor, and served for one year, contributing to the growth of Payne
Memorial.

1903

In 1903 the Reverend John W. Beckett was appointed the seventh pastor. However, failing health allowed him to serve only part of his term.  Fortunately, his son, in whom he inculcated his religious fervor, was appointed to succeed him, and he died thanking God for permitting his ideas to bear fruit.

1904

At the next conference in 1904 the Reverend L. M. Beckett was joyfully appointed as the eighth pastor.  Significant accomplishments were realized under his leadership, some of which we have with us today.  

1906

The Reverend J. C. Waters was the ninth pastor to serve Payne Memorial.  For two years he steered the church in its upward movement.

1908

The Reverend P. M. Wortham, the tenth pastor to stand at the helm of Payne Memorial, filled the church with his weighty presence for the next four years.  During his administration a stirring revival was conducted, and more than fifty young people joined the church.  Strong, hardworking clubs multiplied under the leadership of the Reverend Wortham.

1912

From 1912 to 1917 the Reverend James G. Martin, who was the third pastor, was again assigned to Payne Memorial and served an additional five years as the eleventh pastor.  These were highly productive years.  During this administration, the trustees of Payne Memorial purchased a church on the corner of Calhoun Street and Patterson Avenue (now known as Laurens Street) for $41,700.00.  The church was incorporated and assumed an independent spirit, maintaining its image as a role model.  The Reverend Martin, with the devoted acquiescence of the trustees, also secured a lovely parsonage at 1342 Calhoun Street.

1917

The Reverend C. N. Murray served from 1917 to 1920 as the twelfth pastor of Payne Memorial.  A Grand Rally was the most outstanding event during Rev. Murray’s tenure. More than $1,000.00 was raised, and at that time the parsonage mortgage was burned.  The Reverend Murray died in 1920 during his administration.  

1920

The Reverend C. A. Williams completed the Reverend Murray’s term and was later appointed Payne’s thirteenth pastor, serving until 1921.

1921

The Reverend James G. Martin was called for the third time to serve as the fourteenth pastor of Payne Memorial.  He served for three years with his usual aplomb. He was much loved and he dedicated his life to the grandeur of Payne Memorial.

1924

The Reverend J. A. Briscoe succeeded the Reverend Martin in 1924, becoming Payne’s fifteenth pastor.  He was an extremely popular minister with a far-sighted vision. Under his guidance the church purchased the beautiful historic church at the corner of Madison Avenue and Laurens Street and the lovely attached parsonage on Laurens Street for $55,000.  The cornerstone was laid on Sunday, September 11, 1927.   Payne Memorial congregations worshipped at this church for the following 62 years.  The Reverend Briscoe served for six years as one of the most innovative and deeply loved ministers in the religious community.

1930

In 1930 the Reverend H. E. Walden became the sixteenth pastor.  He completed five highly successful years.  During this time the church was thoroughly organized in every department and was considered to be one of the most systematized and finely tuned churches in the city of Baltimore.  The Reverend Walden attracted many devotees.

1935

In 1935 the Reverend David Rice was appointed the seventeenth pastor.  At this time the church was passing through the most crucial moments in its history.  The interest on the mortgage had reached its peak.  The Reverend Rice saved the church by paying off an interest amounting to $3,500, thereby regaining the confidence of its creditors.  Although he was very gifted and had many admirable plans he intended to execute for the church, his activities were unfortunately curtailed due to a severe illness, which ended in his death in August 1940.

1940

In the interval between the death of the Reverend Rice and the appointment of the Reverend Dr. C. Baker Pearle, the Reverend Noah Melvin, an assistant pastor at Payne, took charge of the pulpit and the daily operations of the church, and was most effectively Payne’s eighteenth pastor.  He kept the church on stable ground, and he received the thanks of a grateful congregation.

In October 1940 the Reverend Dr. C. Baker Pearle began his tenure of nine years as the nineteenth pastor.  He was one of the most eloquent and charismatic preachers in the country.  He boldly led the congregation through the depression era with powerful worship, mass outreach, and educational programs.  He began a radio ministry at WBAL, and wrote a daily devotional guide.  Dr. Pearle’s overwhelming leadership touched every member so that every member wanted to have a role in maintaining the viability of Payne Memorial.  They were able to celebrate the burning of the mortgage in 1943.  The membership grew until the church was literally bursting at the seams.  He remained at Payne until 1949.

1949

In 1949 the Conference sent the Reverend W. P. Mitchell to Payne Memorial as the twentieth pastor.  He remained as pastor for thirty-three years until 1982.  Under his pastorship renovations were made to the church, including paneling, a new choir loft, a stewardess room, and new bathrooms.  A new pipe organ and pews were also purchased.  Rev. Mitchell's business sense kept the
church solvent.

1982

The Reverend Dr. Howard L. Camper was assigned to historic Payne Memorial as its twenty-first pastor in 1982.  Under his progressive leadership a new million-dollar church was built on the site of the old church at Madison Avenue and Laurens Street.  This sanctuary was dedicated in 1989.  Dr. Camper’s very popular ministry was complemented by twenty organizations that administered to the community through youth development, a Tutorial program, Eating Together program, Arts and Crafts, and the Colonel Brady Development Corporation (CBDC), a ministry to provide affordable housing.  Dr. Camper, with the trustees of the church, also bought a new parsonage.  At the time of his death in October 1990, he was seeking election as one of the Bishops of the AME church.

1990

Payne Memorial AME Church set a precedent in 1990 when it was blessed with its first woman, the Reverend Dr. Vashti Murphy McKenzie as the twenty-second pastor. This prepared and anointed woman of God led Payne Memorial into a new era of dynamic witness and outreach.  Under Dr. McKenzie’s leadership, God blessed the Payne Memorial AME Church family with a tremendous vision: Vision to Victory 2000.  This vision included many innovative ministries that holistically address the needs of families.  Payne Memorial AME Church and her nonprofit community service agency, Payne Memorial Outreach, Inc. (PMO), sponsors a host of initiatives, including a thriving summer youth camp, an after-school program, scouting, a Saturday Academy, successful male and female rites of passage programs, science and technology programs, and website in cyberspace.  The masses are reached through
the radio and television ministry.

As a part of the church’s community development programs, a five-story 32,000 sq. ft. apartment building was purchased in 1996, which has been developed into a two million dollar Human and Economic Development Center called the Nimrod.  The center will house a senior adult daycare facility and youth and adult education programs.

As part of the Welfare to Work Reform, Payne Memorial Outreach Inc. was awarded a $1.8 million contract in 1997 for a Jobs Service Program that would provide job readiness skills and place 1,000 clients in jobs.  The success of the program has been such that other programs have been modeled after it.  

In 1999 Payne Memorial A.M.E. Church added to its property holdings a 28,000 sq. ft. three-floor office building at 1505 Eutaw Place called the Anvil, which contains a 500+ seat auditorium, a second floor that houses the Jobs Service Program, and a commercial kitchen and banquet facility on the lower level.  

In the year 2000 Dr. McKenzie achieved international fame as the first woman to be elected Bishop in the A.M.E. Church.  She was appointed to the Eighteenth District located in southern Africa.  First Gentleman Stan McKenzie made history by becoming the first male Missionary Episcopal Supervisor in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

2000

The Reverend Dr. Michael O. Thomas was appointed the twenty-third pastor of Payne Memorial by Bishop Vinton R. Anderson the last Sunday in October 2000.  We were also blessed to have his wife Dr. Debyii S. Thomas share her anointed abilities with Payne as assistant pastor.  In the first year of his tenure he continued the programs that have become emblematic of Payne Memorial.  This year continues to be an extraordinary one with spiritual as well as physical growth reigning supreme with the help of the Lord.

In 2001 we had the grand opening of the Nimrod Building. The church relocated its administrative offices to the third floor of the Anvil Building. We successfully negotiated property sales for $1 million. The creation of the alternative for Halloween called Hallelujah Praise to keep youth off the streets and provide a safe environment has been very successful. Dr. Thomas has

expanded the Restoration Ministry, a holistic health prevention care and treatment organization. Also Payne has establishing faith-based collaborations and partnerships with Redemption C.O.G.I.C. to enhance health outreach. Twenty have accepted the call to preach and are receiving spiritual guidance, training and nurturing under Dr. Thomas’ excellent tutelage as they strive to meet their goal. He has also added a Mime ministry to enhance our worship services.

Dr. Thomas demonstrated his commitment to expanding the minds of young people by donating all of the proceeds from his banquet to the Adoration and Praise Scholarship Committee.

In 2003 the Adoration and Praise Scholarship Committee recognized its tenth anniversary with its First Annual Scholarship Awards Banquet honoring six High School graduates with scholarships of $1,000 each to help them continue to strive for excellence. The banquet was held at the Forum Caterers with the keynote address by Gwendolyn E. Boyd, National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Also in 2003 the physical appearance of Payne Memorial was enhanced by the construction of a new entranceway and foyer that is enclosed with glass walls from ceiling to the floor which protects the vestibule and parishioners from the weather elements.

In 2004 the Adoration and Praise Scholarship Committee held its Second Annual Scholarship Awards Banquet at the Forum Caterers with the keynote address by Dr. Stanley F. Battle, President of Coppin State University. In July 2004 the Right Reverend Adam J. Richardson was appointed Bishop of the Second District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and Mrs. Connie Richardson was appointed Episcopal Supervisor.

Dr. Thomas was Dean of the Baltimore Annual Conference Board of Examiners, Board member of the Baltimore Urban League, Baltimore Annual Conference Board of Trustees and Board of Treasurers.  He is a mentor and instructor for Doctor of Ministry program at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.  Dr. Thomas is leading the church into a glorious future.

Payne Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church, standing on faith in God and the foresight and perseverance of her preceding generations of devoted servants of Christ, has been an anchor in Baltimore City.  In testimony to the awesome and unmatchable power of God, Payne Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church has been blessed to endure, to thrive, and to serve.  After over One Hundred Years of Word, Worship, and Work, Payne Memorial remains a truly historic people who have laid a tremendous foundation for future generations.