Allen Temple CME Church

L-R: First CME Bishop William H. Miles; Graduating class at Paine College, circa 1901; early CME mission church.

Roots of the
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church &

Allen Temple

CME Beginnings
(From Tender Plant to Sturdy Tree)

The Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, or the CME Church as it is commonly called, came into existence as a result of the movement from slavery to freedom. During the years following the birth of Methodism, the denomination grew rapidly. The Methodist Episcopal Church South was an outgrowth of Wesley's Methodism. Some Blacks, converted to Christianity by slave masters, accepted the Methodist doctrine as it was. However, with the passage of time, the emancipation of Blacks from slavery created the desire by Blacks to have and control their own church. This desire led formerly enslaved persons who had been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, to start their own independent religious organization.

The Organizers: Forty-one men who has exemplified leadership qualities gathered together in Jackson, Tennessee on December 16, 1870. With the advice and assistance of the white brethren of the M.E. Church South, the Black religious leaders organized the colored branch of Methodism. On Tuesday, December 20, they adopted the Methodist South's Book of Discipline and on Wednesday, December 21, they elected two of their own preachers - William H. Miles of Kentucky and Richard H. Vanderhorst of Georgia - as their bishops. Gathering in Jackson with only a dream, the religious leaders departed with their own church a reality.

In 1956, the C.M.E. denomination officially changed its name from "Colored" Methodist Episcopal - to - "Christian" Methodist Episcopal.

The CME Church supports four colleges, including Paine College in Augusta, GA, Miles College in Birmingham, AL, Lane College in Jackson, Tenn, Texas College in Tyler, Texas and maintains missions in Ghana, Haiti, Jamaica, Liberia, and Nigeria.

In the words of Bishop Randall Albert Carter, "this tender plant of God" had taken root and "was here to live or die." (Biblical basis: Psalm 80.)

**Information taken from the official CME website found at www.c-m-e.org

Allen Temple Beginnings

Allen Temple was founded in Tallahassee, FL in the year of 1957. The founding members were Rev. M.L. Campbell (pastor), Joe Morris (deacon/steward), Freddie Spivey (finance secretary), Harry Fordham (deacon), Maryn Hilliard (deacon), Larcy Lampley (deacon), J. Morris, W. Jackson, D. Franklin, H. Thurman. The church originally began at Vaughn Chapel C.M.E. Church which was founded in 1926 and was located on Adams St in Tallahassee, FL. In 1961, the church was moved and its new building was erected at its current location of the historic Bond Community of Tallahassee. Pastor Harris and Allen Temple now share in the God-given vision of: "Taking God's People from Bonds to Freedom"!