St. Luke African Methodist Episcopal Church in Grove Place is celebrating its 99th year with special services and some guest preachers this week and next.
Established on March 20, 1920, St. Luke’s founding members were formerly members of Holy Cross Episcopal Church, according to a release from the church. Historically, in 1918, Reverend Reginald Grant Barrow, a preacher, was assigned to Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Estate Lower Love to minister to the spiritual needs of the people. Once there, he saw the poor working conditions of people and began organizing ways to change them. He was not afraid to confront the oppressive system that was exploiting the members of Holy Cross.
This confrontation, however, brought about a division in the church and a split developed among the congregation, church officials say. Those members who stood with Rev. Barrow walked out of Holy Cross and started worshiping God under a tamarind tree in Estate Grove Place. To this day, remnants of the location still stand by the Charles A. (‘Tappy’) Seales Fire Station in Grove Place.
Based on a recommendation from the early twentieth-century Grove Place journalist and activist David Hamilton Jackson, Barrow and members applied to and were accepted into the African Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States. St. Luke is the first African Methodist Episcopal Church on St. Croix. It’s original sanctuary, erected in 1933, was built on land donated by the St. Croix Labor Union.
Ninety-nine years and going strong, the church continues to be a beacon of light in the
Grove Place community, while forging relationships across denominational lines. Its celebration includes Wednesday night anniversary services, which began on March 6, with preaching by the current pastor Rev. Jermaine Mulley. It will continue at 6:45 p.m., March 13, with Pastor Reginald Perry of Victorious Believers ministries.
On Sunday, March 17, St. Luke will host its Friends and Family Day celebration with guest preacher Apostle Samuel Weekes, Paradise Covenant Ministries, St. Thomas.
The 99th Anniversary Celebration will culminate at 6:45 p.m., Wednesday, March 20, with Pastor John Briscoe of Refuge Tabernacle Church bringing the message. All are invited to come and celebrate.
The church is located at 28 Estate Grove Place, Frederiksted, St. Croix,just past Lorraine Village and shortly before Mutual Homes.
For additional information, please contact Pastor Mulley at 277-0501.
