When the Civil War ended, there were over 200,000 people of African descent who considered themselves members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. After the emancipation from slavery, having control over their own church became important to many of these freed persons. A movement was inaugurated within the Methodist church to give the Blacks a separate and independent organization. With the assistance of the bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, a group of forty-one leaders gathered in Jackson, Tennessee, and formally founded the colored branch of Methodism. The conference, which took place December 15-21, 1870, chose as the name of their Church, the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in America. Gathering in Jackson with only a dream, this illustrious group of ex-slaves and leaders of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South departed with their own church a reality. The Church was organized, bishops were elected, and the line of policy outlined. The ministers of the new Church began at once to spread and extend its borders.

The story of the Phillips Christian Methodist Episcopal Church begins with a group from the Methodist Episcopal Church, South who came to Huntsville several years prior to that 1870 conference. In 1865, this group arrived in Huntsville to organize a Colored Methodist Church. When Bishop D.S. Doggett of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South organized the Memphis Colored Conference in Jackson, Tennessee in 1867, the Huntsville Church was there. Taking place in November 20-24, 1867, that historic conference is considered the beginning of what became officially known as the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church of America.

Very little is known about the early ministers of the Huntsville Church. The first meetings were held in "the Grove" at the home of Brother Lawyer Kemp and his wife Julie on Pump Street. From there, worship was moved to a converted broom factory on Clinton Street near the home of Mr. Dud Laws. The church moved again in the early 1900's when, under the pastorate of the Reverend D. Black, Rison Chapel was purchased from the Holmes Street Methodist Church. This purchase took place around 1906. This beautiful white frame structure, located on Church Street near what is now the Depot Roundhouse, was destroyed by fire while the Reverend M.C. Carter was pastor (1914-1916). It is believed that the fire was started while Reverend Carter was either ironing or cleaning at the church. Since there was no insurance to cover the loss, the church was left without a building until 1920. During the interim, worship services were held at the old Fred Davis School, in the Masonic Hall in "the Grove," and in the Immaculate Hall on Meridian Street. In addition, member's homes such as Robert Shepard home were utilized as meeting places.

Pastor W.D. Avery, and Alabama A&M College professor and brick mason, helped the congregation purchase the Old Rison Chapel. He was also instrumental in building the new Phillips Chapel during his tenure as pastor (1920-1922). Presiding Elder Fletcher asked Bishop Charles Henry Phillips for help in building the new church. Hence, it was named in his honor as were numerous other CME churches built during this time period. About ten years after the church was built, the congregation decided to add a parsonage. Under the leadership of the Reverend S.S. Sherron (1932-1925), the Phillips Chapel parsonage was built using $350 borrowed by Brother W.L. Fearn. This parsonage served Phillips' ministers until 1950. The church continued to be blessed during this time period and was able to celebrate the burning of its mortgage while under the leadership of Pastor N.D. Lane (1936-1942). Under the leadership of the next pastor, the Reverend I.J. Brooks (1942-1951), and education room, a kitchen and an upstairs parsonage were added to the church. The Church Street building served the congregation until, led by Pastor L.L. Reddick, Jr., the church moved into a new structure at 200 Davis Circle. At the time of this move in 1973, the "Chapel" was dropped from the church name. With the support of its faithful members, Phillips CME Church celebrated the burning of the Davis Street mortgage on Palm Sunday, March 27, 1994. The Presiding Prelate of the Fifth Episcopal District, Bishop R.O. Bass, preached the sermon on this uplifting occasion which occurred under the leadership of the Reverend E.A. Craig (1990-1996).

Outreach has always been a part of the ministry of Phillips CME Church. During the initial pastorate of the Reverend L.L. Reddick in the 1950's, a radio ministry and a church kindergarten were organized. At the direction of Reverend Macon D. Clark (1978-1986), the church sponsored its first Education Banquet. Subsequent banquets featured such speakers at Attorney Emma Ione Darnell, former President of the Judicial Council of the CME church and journalist, Tony Brown. In dinner theatre settings, "God's Trombones" and "Let Us Rejoice and Be Glad," an original musical, were presented. Funds from those ministries were used to finance the church's after-school tutorial program which opened in 1990. Additional funding for the program was secured through grants from the United Way and the State of Alabama. State Representative Laura Hall was instrumental in providing consistent State contributions to the program. The tutorial program was spearheaded by the Reverend Dr. C.A. Smith, Sr., and organized by Mrs. Elizabeth Reddick and Mrs. Lillian Morgan. It served as a model for programs throughout the city. The Brotherhood Outreach has collaborated with such organizations as Big Brothers/Big Sisters and CASA and served as mentors to boys at Bloosomwood School. During his tenure as pastor from 1998-2000, the Reverend Dr. Willie N. Owens emphasized new ministries, church growth and leadership training. During the first year of his pastorate, the church experienced a nearly twenty-five percent increase in membership. It was also under the leadership of Reverend Owens that the Phillips Life Enrichment Center, a non-profit organization, was incorporated.

In the year 2000, the Reverend A. Anthony Robinson was called to lead Phillips. The youthful Reverend Robinson brought spiritual renewal to the church and motivated a "ministry explosion." Among the new and improved ministries were spiritual conferences where short inspirational messages were shared and officers present written reports of their discipleship, improved care for the sick and shut-in, a renewed wmphasis on fiscal responsibility. In addition to these, a greater emphasis was placed on the youth, young adult and adult ministries in the church. In his second year, Reverend Robinson also served as supply Presiding Elder of the Huntsville District.

The Reverend Richard McDuffie, the current pastor, arrived in August 2003. He has already shared his vision for the church and announced his desire to "serve the present age." Rev. McDuffie has lead many ministries at Phillips. Under Rev. McDuffie's leadership at Phillips a Van Ministry and Nursing Home Ministry has begun. The congregation is blessed to have this man of God as their Pastor.

Ministers and members have always sought to "serve the present age." while addressing their own spiritual needs and seeking to win souls to Christ. From this church have come two bishops. The Reverend Charles Lee Russell, a native of Campbell, Alabama, who served as pastor for 1913 through 1914, was elected 21st Bishop of the CME Church in 1938. The Reverend L.L. Reddick III, the son of a Phillips pastor, served as editor of the Christian Index for 16 years before being elected 51st Bishop of the CME Church in 1998.

 

Register of Pastors

 

J.S. Smith W. Perkins J.W. Wills D. Black V.L. Bailey R.C. Crim A.D. Jones J.R. Christine C.L. Russell M.C. Carter W.D. Avery W.H. Howard J.C. Norris

1901-1902 1902-1904 1904-1905 1905-1908 1909-1910 1910-1911 1911-1912 1912-1913 1913-1914 1914-1916 1920-1922 1922-1923 1923-1925

R.F. Carter J.H. Bynum W.M. Compton J.H. Williams D.G. Moore Wm. Ware S.S. Sherron J.W. McClure N.C. Lane I.J. Brooks L.L Reddick Jr. W.H. Pugh R.E. Brooks

1925-1926 1926-1927 1927-1929 1929-1930 1930-1931 1931-1932 1932-1935 1935-1936 1936-1942 1942-1951 1951-1958 1958-1959 1959-1961

J.W. Powell H.L. Gilliam W.W. Gaskin L.L. Reddick Jr. M.D. Clark C.A. Smith Sr.  John Loving E.A. Craig James Jones Jr. W.N. Owens A.A. Robinson Richard McDuffie

1961-1966 1966-1968 1968-1969 1969-1978 1978-1986 1986-1989 1989-1990 1990-1996 1996-1998 1998-2000 2000-2003 2003-Present