ST. PAUL COGIC
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
Another stop on the recent Lexington MS Historic Church Tour, hosted by the Friends of Lexington Preservation, was St. Paul Church of God in Christ.
After a welcome by Lexington Mayor Robin McCrory, Jennifer Baughn, chief architectural historian for the Mississippi Dept. of Archives and History, provided in-depth info on the architectural features of St. Paul. Louise Shavers of St. Paul presented church history. This event also included special music by the Holmes County Central High School choir directed by Pierrdro Gallion.
Early history states that the very first meeting was held under a brush arbor once located where the parking lot is now. A brush arbor is an open sided shelter constructed with brush and tree branches help up by poles. The first congregation became officially organized in 1897 in an abandoned old log cabin/gin house located by Black Creek, donated by John Stewart Watson.
St. Paul is the first and oldest Church of God in Christ in the world, the “Mother Church” of the Churches of God, organized by Bishop Charles Harrison Mason 128 years ago. In infancy, the members suffered many hardships. During a service one night at the gin house, five pistol shots were fired along with two shotgun shots spreading bullets on the saints. None were seriously hurt. Many other trials were suffered but the group persevered. On the first Sunday in March 1897, Elder Mason performed his first baptismal service. There were 47 original charter members that were baptized.
Eventually Elder Mason bought the plot of land in Lexington where St. Paul now sits. The land was purchased by Mason for $65.00. The seller gave him six months to pay for it. Elder mason paid $35 down and $30 later. The first church building was a 40×60 square foot frame structure which later burned.
In 1906, the current sanctuary built in the shape of a cross, was dedicated by Bishop Mason. Saints Industrial and Literary School, later Saints Junior College, began in the basement of the church in 1914.
Brother Walter Crawford, an excellent contractor of Goodman, MS, engineered this permanent structure. It took several years to build because it was 3 layers thick. The bricks had to be brought in by wagon from Louisville, MS, approximately a 75 mile trip. Over the years much construction has been added, but the basic cross design can still be seen in the sanctuary. The original hand-carved pulpit built by Bishop Mason and some of the original pews remain in the sanctuary.
During the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, Elder William Dean, Jr. successfully led the church in renovations from the basement to the ceiling. In 2009, Elder Dean completed a dream he had for many years, a much needed fellowship hall, which includes a dining hall and gymnasium. This facility was dedicated January 2010 and named William Dean, Jr. Fellowship Hall. In the fall of 2016, St. Paul established a museum in the basement of the church to honor the charter members and pioneering members of the church. It also contains a pictorial exhibit that chronicles the church history. Also in 2016, the Miss Dept. of Archives and History approved and installed the historical marker located near the front entrance.
The Church of God in Christ has spread throughout every state in the US and to more than 70 foreign countries, with membership of approximately 8 million people.
