Shrewsbury Avenue AME Zion Church (1827) Shrewsbury NJ

The Shrewsbury Avenue African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church as organized as the St. James A.M.E. Zion Church in Fair Haven, New Jersey. When the New York Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church met for the first time in June 1827, several persons from the Fair Haven-Red Bank, New Jersey, and area were in attendance. This group organized the St. James A.M.E. Zion Church in 1827. They erected an edifice and became a part of the New York Conference in 1833.

Some of the charter members were Silas and Ann Holmes; Alfred and Mary Ludlow; Charles and Esther Jobes; Anthony Sylvester and George Williams. The building was situated near the Navesink River, opposite Woodland Drive and east of Covert’s store in Fair Haven.  Records show that the congregation worshipped at this site at least until 1841.  Although it is not certain, it is believed that this building was destroyed by fire in the late 1860s. After the fire, the St. James congregation worshipped with the Bethel A.M.E. Church, founded in 1858, one block west of the St. James site.  On February 9, 1873, the Bethel building was destroyed by fire. Both groups had fire insurance and enough funds to discuss future building plans. They held services for a short tine in a building in Red Bank, on Wharf and Union avenues. The A.M.E. group desired to re-establish themselves in Fair Haven, and brought in the Reverend Noah Brooks to serve as their first pastor.

The St. James group moved to a building on Beach Street (later changed to West Bergen Place and now known as Dr. James Parkers Blvd.) owned by the Odd Fellows Fraternity. In a short time, they were able to purchase land on Central Avenue, and under the leadership of the late Reverend Charles Robinson, built a church. The church was dedicated on December 25, 1873, and completed in 1874.

In the meantime, the A.M.E. Zion churches in New Jersey, including St. James, were authorized to form the New Jersey Annual Conference of the A.M.E. Zion Church. The historic session convened at the St. James A.M.E. Zion Church on July 2, 1874, with Bishop J.J. Clinton, presiding.  Camp meeting, fairs, festivals, concerts and picnics in the wooded areas were popular events from that time until 1900.

SOURCE: SHREWSBURY AVENUE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH