The History of Greater Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church 

1892 – 2017 

Mother Mary Scott organized a Sunday School in 1890 on Fitch Street and from that, a Mission was organized under the direction of Presiding Elder C.D. White of the North Ohio Conference on September 13, 1892. Persons working with Rev. White included gallant souls: Daniel Bell, Mariah Williams, Jane Fox, Lewis Woodward and others who made the dream of the "Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church” a reality. 

Nineteen hundred and seven stood out as an essential year in the rich history of Allen. It marked the transition from a mission to a full-fledged church. Rev. W.H. Coleman is credited with this accomplishment. Rev. T.S. Woodson, the pastor of sister church, Wayman AME and Mother Mary Scott gave moral and financial help to accelerate the movement. The purchase of the “new” Allen involved the mortgaging of several members homes. 

Mariah Williams and others mortgaged their own homes to purchase the first church. They bought a building from a congregation on Wayne Avenue and moved it across town to 231 S. Euclid Avenue. Rev. Coleman increased the membership of Allen from 18 to 78 and reduced the mortgage debt to $1,800.00. 

Allen was on a steady climb. The task of completely reviving a spirit of cooperation within the membership was accomplished by Rev. C.M. Hogan and Rev. A.A. Challenge who, garnered acclaimed attention from other churches and the mortgage debt was retired. Each pastor, down through the years, added richly to the history, growth and progress of Allen. Rev. H.H. Upthegrove raised the building and constructed a foundation and basement along with wiring for electricity. Rev’s. Forte and Young assumed the task of decorating inside and out during their respective stays. The first parsonage located at 319 College Street was purchased by Rev. C.H. Young who also adopted the envelope system for giving. Rev. M. M. Lewis considerably reduced the indebtedness while increasing the membership by fifty percent, purchased the adjoining lot, remodeled the parsonage and established the first church bulletin. 

Allen experienced a rapid development stage between 1917 and 1927 which pushed the church into the limelight of the Annual Conferences. Rev. A.J. Allen, pastored the church from 1927-1931, organizing one of the most unique Usher Boards in the entire Third Episcopal District. In May of 1940 Rev. Frank F. Mason filled the unexpired term of Rev. Allen. Rev. Mason was later elevated to Presiding Elder of the district. Dr. L.C. Ridley, a former professor of Psychology at Wilberforce University, became the shepherd. He was a nationally renowned orator and a dynamic preacher. Allen was placed in the Springfield District and quickly moved to wear the mantel of lead church of the District. 

The war-torn year of 1943 marked Allen’s initial effort that distinguished this phase of history as the building era. The original Building Fund Committee was organized under Rev. J.W. Storms, including Walter Gibson, K.P. Tate, Oliver Robinson, James Bryant, Ida Goings, Fanny Dawson, Bessie Harvey and Bish Thompson. Rev. Storms later became Presiding Elder in the Pittsburg Conference. 

Rev. L.G. Long purchased the corner lot and moved the dwelling there to another location, clearing the way for architectural planning. This administration raised a large amount of funds and held a ground-breaking ceremony on May 5, 1946. Rev. Long also organized the Young Adult Choir. In 1947, Rev. Garr Davis shepherded Allen and Stewardess Board No. 3, the Courtesy Club and the Minute Women were organized. Two years later Rev. M.C. Pollock assumed the pastorate and endeavored to gain the congregations confidence and succeeded in increasing a new faith in the idea of wanting to build. The building fund of $24,832 was increased to $32,000. 

On December 16, 1951 fire completely destroyed the old frame building. This marked the largest single tragedy in the rich history of the church. Now, there was no other choice but to build. The fire insurance netted $12,000. Churches of all denominations reached out to Allen both spiritually and financially. The officers and members accepted the offer from St. John Baptist Church to hold services in their Sunday School room. A new building fund committee was organized and accepted the challenge. Lloyd Lewis was Chairman of the committee and the following persons served on the committee: Mable Taylor Nelson, Harry Johns, Nathan Gill, who was later succeeded by Nash Alexander, Kenneth P. Tate, F. Arlington Young and Dr. J. Milton Dasher. 

One of the most memorable years in the history of Allen was 1952. The building fund kick-off banquet was held on February 7, 1952. A series of rally’s and donations brought a new structure closer. In the spring of ’52 ground was broken and digging for the basement actual began. Architects, contractors and laborers worked hard with Rev. Pollack and the Building Committee. The Building Committee (not to be confused with the building fund committee) consisted of Rev. Pollack, Jerome Miller, Arthur Goodnight and James Bryant. Rev. Pollack, an outstanding pulpiteer and one of the strong faints of the AMEC, rallied the congregation, overcame the odds and the difficulties, and built the first unit of a new Allen, which was then renamed, Greater Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church. The first unit, known as the Educational Department, was built at a cost of $80,000. The first service in the new church was held in October of 1952. After the 1952 General Conference, Greater Allen was placed in the Dayton District. Rev. Pollack remained with the church until 1956. 

Rev. W.F. Ogleton purchased and paid for a parsonage at 515 S. Summit Street and removed the mortgage debt. Because of his love for young people and their spiritual growth, he organized the Junior Church, the Cherub and Cherubette Choirs. Rev. Ogleton’s 

Rev. Harris initiated a program to upgrade equipment in the Fellowship Hall, and kitchen. A sound room was developed with professional sound and recording equipment. In 1991, Rev. Harris established the West Dayton Lenten Caravan. The Caravan brings more than 20 churches of various denominations together to participate in daily worship services from Palm Sunday through Maundy Thursday. The Caravan Educational Foundation, also established by Harris awards scholarships to deserving graduating seniors from Caravan churches. 

The Ecumenical Neighborhood Development Corporation (ENDC) was another brain-child of Earl Harris. The corporation built a 9.2 million dollar, 144 unit senior housing complex. Both Hoover Place Senior Community and the Caravan remain active and integral parts of West Dayton in 2017. 

Under Harris’ watch, Greater Allen continued to acquire property surrounding the church. He served as the Presiding Elder for the Dayton District the last two years of his tenure as pastor and was then elevated to Presiding Elder of the Cleveland District of the North Ohio Conference in 2014. 

Rev. Elmer S. Martin was assigned to Greater Allen in November of 2014. He ushered in a system of “love one another.” Rev. Martin is on call to his members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. He is well known at all area hospitals, because he regularly visits Greater Allen members and he willingly prays for and encourages others he meets during visits. Members absent from Sunday service can expect a Monday phone call from the pastor inquiring about their health and reason for missing service. Freezing temperatures in February caused pipes to burst in the Scott Fellowship Hall. Water poured into the facility for over five hours before it could be stopped. Rev. Martin gave leadership to the extensive renovations Rev. Martin has continued in the vein of other shepherds to acquire nearby property and improve the edifice. New carpeting was purchased for the entire church in 2017. The sanctuary was enhanced with new lighting, refurbishing of the pews, painting the interior walls, treating the wood in the sanctuary, refinishing the ceilings and new vestibule furniture and floor repairs. The Charles Scott Fellowship Hall kitchen was remodeled with new custom built cabinets and granite countertops. Greater Allen received an award from the GS Gold Award Troop No. 30367 in honor of Joia Allen, for improving her Church community. The Ethel C. Prear Library was renovated and dedicated on Sunday, December 11, 2016. Under Rev. Martin’s leadership the Pollack building adjacent to the current church was demolished for additional parking. 

Greater Allen AMEC hosted the 2017 Payne Theological Seminary Graduation in May of 2017. Rev. Elmer S. Martin and Associate Lucinda V. Burgess were honor graduates of the class. 

At the Ohio-South Ohio Annual Conference in October of 2017 Greater Allen was moved from the Dayton District to the Columbus-Springfield-Xenia District. The church has made rapid progress under the administration of all its pastors down to the present time. It should be fixed firmly in mind, that prevailing economic conditions exert a marked influence upon the character of a given administration and for this reason, among many others, the work of some pastors may appear more or less illuminating than others. Many giants have passed through the doors of Greater Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church. The congregation was proud to have had each shepherd. Each of these ministers made their contributions to bring Greater Allen to where it is today. 



HISTORY OF THE CLERGY 

1893-1894 Rev. S. T. Tice First 

1894-1895 Rev. J. C. Caldwell Second 

1895-1896 Rev. T.B. Jessup Third 

1895-1896 Rev. Cheatem Fourth 

1896-1899 Rev. J. J. Morant Fifth 

1899-1900 Rev. J.H. Hill Sixth 

1900-1901 Rev. W. M. Guy Seventh 

1901-1903 Rev. W. B. Lee Eighth 

1903-1904 Rev. J. M. Ross Ninth 

1904-1905 Rev. N. M. Culpher Tenth 

1905-1907 Rev. J. C. Turner Eleventh 

1907-1909 Rev. W. H. Coleman Twelfth 

1909-1910 Rev. C. M. Hogans Thirteenth 

1910-1913 Rev. A. A. Challenger Fourteenth 

1913-1916 Rev. E. S. Forte Fifteenth 

1916-1917 Rev. G. W. Maxwell Sixteenth 

1917-1920 Rev. H. H. Upthegrove Seventeenth 

1920-1922 Rev. C. H. Young Eighteenth 

1922-1927 Rev. M. M. Lewis Nineteenth 

1927-1931 Rev. A. J. Allen Twentieth 

1931-1931 Rev. F. H. Mason, finished Twenty-first 

Rev. Allen’s unexpired term 

1931-1933 Rev. W. M. Mitchell Twenty-second 

1933-1937 Rev. P.S. Hill Twenty-third 

1937-1939 Rev. John Ervin Twenty-fourth 

1939-1940 Rev. L. C. Ridley Twenty-fifth 

1940-1944 Rev. J. W. Storms Twenty-sixth 

1944-1947 Rev. L. G. Long Twenty-seventh 

1947-1949 Rev. G. M. Davis Twenty-eighth 

1949-1956 Rev. M. C. Pollack Twenty-ninth 

1956-1963 Rev. W. F. Ogleton Thirtieth 

1963-1965 Rev. E. T. Wikle Thirty-first 

1965-1977 Rev. U. A. Hughey Thirty-second 

1977-1979 Rev. Simon Perkins, Jr. Thirty-third 

1979-1981 Rev. E. B. Jordan Thirty-fourth 

1981-1989 Rev. Charles L. Scott Thirty-fifth 

1989-2014 Rev. Dr. Earl G. Harris Thirty-sixth 

2014-Present Rev. Dr. Elmer S. Martin Thirty-seventh