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StumbleuponWayman Chapel A.M.E. to mark 175 years Sunday
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Wayman Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church is celebrating its 175th anniversary Sunday, Aug. 31. It has been at its current location, at 3317 Hoover Ave., since May 12, 1963. Contributed photoThe first black congregation to plant roots in Dayton soil was Wayman Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, now at 3317 Hoover Ave. It was the first A.M.E. connectional church in the district and the place where Dayton's most celebrated bard, Paul Laurence Dunbar, recited his first poems.
At 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31, Wayman is hosting a gospel music extravaganza to commemorate 175 years as a vital Christian presence in the greater-Dayton faith community.
"This has been a yearlong celebration," said Laura Lansdown, chairwoman of Wayman's 175th anniversary committee. "In February, we honored our 80-year and older members with Tell My Story, where we videotaped each one talking about their life.
"In March, we hosted a prayer breakfast and this weekend is our musical tribute featuring former Daytonian and music minister, the Rev. Derek Floyd, and the Ebenezer Baptist Church Men's Choir from Atlanta."
Wayman was founded as a word-of-mouth, door-to-door ministry by the Rev. James Byrd in 1833. In 1838, trustees purchased a tract of land in East Dayton and built a small-frame building that was dedicated in 1840.
In January 1841, following a night of looting, vandalizing and beatings by a group of whites, many members fled the city. The church was re-constituted in 1867 and since then has never abandoned its central mission to serve the spiritual, intellectual, physical and emotional needs of its members.
"When I first went to Wayman, it was exactly what I needed. An uplifting experience," said Lelia Austin, who joined in the early 1950s. "We had young people. We had old people. People seemed to be more committed to attending church and seemed to rely more on their faith and abide by basic principles. Nowadays our style of music has become more updated and we still maintain a reasonable crowd of young people."
Wayman's anniversary celebration will culminate Oct. 26, when senior Pastor Ronald Glenn, who took over leadership of Wayman in 2005, will share the pulpit with newly elected A.M.E. Bishop C. Garnett Henning.
"(The) Rev. Glenn is a minister of substance," Austin said. "He is a theologian and a compassionate pastor. He is extremely intelligent. He doesn't preach with a lot of antics, but he gives a meaningful sermon every time. He's perfect for our church and perfect for our 175th anniversary celebration."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2167 or kmoss@DaytonDailyNews.com.
How to go
What: Wayman Chapel A.M.E. Church 175th Anniversary Concert, featuring Derek Floyd, the Ebenezer Baptist Church Men's Choir and Angela Christine Gorman
Where: Wayman Church, 3317 Hoover Ave.
When: 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31
How much: $15 adults, $7.50 children younger than 12
For more information: Call (937) 268-6729
