St. Mark's United Methodist Church (New York, N.Y.)

St. Mark's United Methodist Church in New York City was organized in June 1871 by Rev. William F. Butler. At the time, he was associated with Mother African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to establish a Methodist Episcopal Church for African Americans. The church was incorporated in 1896.

The first several sites of the church were in midtown Manhattan. Under the guidance of pastors Dr. William H. Brooks (1897-1923) and Rev. John W. Robinson (1923-1931), a site was purchased which was bounded by 137 and 138 Streets and by St. Nicholas and Edgecombe Avenues in Harlem, and a Gothic inspired building was completed in 1926.

Historically a middle class congregation, St. Mark's was the first church to achieve the following: first to form a literary forum for all denominations, first African American church to become a full member of a white annual conference, first African American congregation to build a church costing more than a half million dollars, and to have two of its pastors appointed as district superintendent. Several of the church's pastors were actively involved in community service. These include Rev. Brooks, a founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the National Urban League. At the time Brooks was considered New York City's most politically active African American minister. Rev. Dr. John J. Hicks, who commenced his relationship with the church in 1964, was also associated with the NAACP and the Harlem Branch of the Young Men's Christian Association, and was involved in community service in other ways as well.

By the mid 1940's St. Mark's had developed a strong social work agency. In 1958 educational and social service programs were developed to reach people of all age groups, and in 1969 the church formed the Harlem Social Action Research Institute to insure the establishment of social services through community relations, education and action, and to create links with other churches to achieve these goals.

From the description of St. Mark's United Methodist Church collection, 1947-1987. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122517288

St. Mark's United Methodist Church in New York City was organized in June 1871 by Rev. William F. Butler. At the time, he was associated with Mother African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to establish a Methodist Episcopal Church for African Americans. The church was incorporated in 1896.

The first several sites of the church were in midtown Manhattan. Under the guidance of pastors Dr. William H. Brooks (1897-1923) and Rev. John W. Robinson (1923-1931), a site was purchased which was bounded by 137 and 138 Streets and by St. Nicholas and Edgecombe Avenues in Harlem, and a Gothic inspired building was completed in 1926.

Historically a middle class congregation, St. Mark's was the first church to achieve the following: first to form a literary forum for all denominations, first African American church to become a full member of a white annual conference, first African American congregation to build a church costing more than a half million dollars, and to have two of its pastors appointed as district superintendent. Several of the church's pastors were actively involved in community service. These include Rev. Brooks, a founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the National Urban League. At the time Brooks was considered New York City's most politically active African American minister. Rev. Dr. John J. Hicks, who commenced his relationship with the church in 1964, was also associated with the NAACP and the Harlem Branch of the Young Men's Christian Association, and was involved in community service in other ways as well.

By the mid 1940's St. Mark's had developed a strong social work agency. In 1958 educational and social service programs were developed to reach people of all age groups, and in 1969 the church formed the Harlem Social Action Research Institute to insure the establishment of social services through community relations, education and action, and to create links with other churches to achieve these goals.

From the guide to the St. Mark's United Methodist Church collection, 1947-1987, (The New York Public Library. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division.)