John W. Stevenson (minister) facts for kids

John W. Stevenson (born August 15, 1835 – died October 1, 1898) was an important minister in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. He was known for building many churches, especially the huge Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, DC. This church was the biggest Black church in the United States when it was built. Stevenson was very good at raising money and helped build churches in Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and New England. He became a respected leader, even serving as the head of the New York district for the AME Church.

John W. Stevenson's Early Life

John W. Stevenson was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on August 15, 1835. His parents were John and Ann Stevenson. In 1840, his family, including his six brothers and sisters, moved to Trinidad. Sadly, Stevenson's father died there within a year.

His mother then returned to Baltimore with all seven children. Young Stevenson was sent to work on a farm. He was sold to different employers four times because he was considered difficult. When he turned eighteen, he managed to buy his freedom by working extra hours and saving his earnings.

Stevenson then moved to Philadelphia. He first worked as a barber and later as a porter at a drug store. The store clerks, William Kearney and his brother, noticed Stevenson's talent and began to teach him. The store owner, Henry Kollock, even sent Stevenson to learn medicine from a Black doctor named Dr. Wilson. Dr. Wilson then sent Stevenson to the Philadelphia University of Eclectic Medicine to study with Professor Woodward.

Stevenson's Ministry Work

In 1858, Stevenson felt a strong calling to become a minister. He was allowed to preach by Reverend Joshua Woodlin. He also became like a son to Bishop Jabez Pitt Campbell and was inspired by Bishop Willis Nazrey.

Stevenson began his ministry as a traveling preacher and doctor. He worked in places like West Chester, Pennsylvania, and Freehold, New Jersey. In 1864, he became a deacon and attended a big meeting of the AME church. He was then sent to the Oxford, Pennsylvania area. For three years, he took classes at Lincoln University in Oxford, studying with Bishop Matthew Simpson.

Building Churches

Stevenson became famous for raising money and building churches. By 1867, he had already built six churches! He even wrote a small book about his work and how he helped finance church buildings.

• His first church was built in West Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1859.
• Later, he built two more churches in Snow Hill, New Jersey, and Milford, New Jersey. A Quaker named Ezra Evans helped him with these projects.
• He then moved to the Delaware Circuit, based in Camden, Delaware. He started a church in Dover, Delaware.
• Next, he moved to Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, where he finished building a church.
• While working there, he also built another church in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.
• In 1874, he moved to Burlington, New Jersey. In a place called Mount Holly, he built a church and a school. He also helped fix up another church there.
• Three years later, he moved to Trenton, New Jersey. There was an old church called "Old Mount Zion" that needed to be replaced with a new, bigger building.
• During this time, he also built a church in Yardley, Pennsylvania, which was across the Delaware River from Trenton.

Leading Districts and Building Metropolitan AME Church

Stevenson was then put in charge of the eastern district of New Jersey. His office was in Trenton, and his district included many towns like Princeton, Newark, and Jersey City. He worked with churches in these areas to help them pay off their debts and build new structures. He especially helped finance a new chapel in Washington.

In 1880, Bishop Daniel Payne asked Stevenson to go to Union Bethel Church in Washington DC. His mission was to build a brand new church. This church would become the famous Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church. The first stone for the church was laid in September 1881. The church was officially opened on May 30, 1886. However, some people in the church were unhappy with Stevenson's methods, and he was removed from the project after asking for a salary that was considered too high.

In July 1889, Stevenson was appointed to lead the New York Conference. He also became the pastor at Brooklyn's Union Bethel Church. Later, he moved to St. Paul's AME Church in Orange, New York. In 1892, Bishop Benjamin Tucker Tanner removed him from this position because of another disagreement about Stevenson's salary. After this, Stevenson moved to Boston.

Throughout his career, Stevenson often wrote articles and even poems for the AME journal, called the Recorder.

End of Career and Death

In May 1894, Stevenson retired from his active ministry in Philadelphia. John W. Stevenson died in Philadelphia on October 1, 1898. He was buried on October 5.