African M E Church
Kentucky Post, Monday, 23 October 1899, page 5
CHURCH ON FIRE
A defective flue in the African M E Church on Columbia Street,
near Sixth, Newport, caused what might have been a disastrous fire Sunday
morning, had it not been for the haste of the Fire Department in responding to
the alarm from Box 17. Services had just begun, when suddenly the church began
to fill with smoke. The congregation became panic stricken and there was a mad
rush for the doors.
No one was hurt. The department extinguished the blaze without difficulty and the congregation returned to worship, when the smoke began pouring from the rafters. Another alarm was sent it. The fireman again put the fire out and had hardly returned to their houses when a third alarm sounded from the same box. This proved to be false, a small boy having pulled the alarm.
Considerable attention was attracted during the firemen's second visit to the church by the pastor, who began holding services in the street. Several hymns were sung in which the crowd joined.
Damage to the church will amount to $50.
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Kentucky Post, Friday, 26 January 1906, page 5
The Trustees of Corpus Christi Church, Newport today, transferred the old church property on Chestnut st. formerly occupied by the church congregation, to the Trustees of the African M E Church of Newport, the consideration being $2000. Rev J R Rooks, pastor of the latter church was instrumental in bringing about the sale and the edifice will be at once used as a house of worship by his congregation.
The church was abandoned by the Corpus Christi congregation several years ago upon the completion of the new church at Ninth and Isabella st. African M E Church on Saratoga st. is to be abandoned.
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Kentucky Post, Monday, 9 April 1906, page 3
The big celebration and formal opening of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Newport, took place yesterday. Many white people attended the services. Provision was made by the committee for visitors and one part of the church was reserved. The services opened at 9 am with Sunday school. At 11 am Rev J W Frazier delivered the thanksgiving sermon and at 1 pm, there was a general praise service.
Dr. R R Downs, of Allen Temple, Cincinnati, delivered a sermon at 2:30 pm which was followed at 4:30 pm by a sermon by Rev A P Nichols. The services came to a close in the evening at 7:30 pm when Dr. J M Turner, of the Frankfort District occupied the pulpit.
More than $500 was secured from the collection. The church the colored people occupy was built by the congregation of the Corpus Christi Catholic Church, who now worship in their new building at Ninth and Isabella sts.