Solomon Wesley United Methodist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Solomon Wesley United Methodist Church
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 Location in Camden County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | 291-B Davistown Road / Asyla Road, Blackwood, New Jersey |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1850 |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century Vernacular |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000241 |
| Added to NRHP | April 10, 1989 |
The Solomon Wesley United Methodist Church is a very old and important church located at 291-B Davistown Road in Blackwood, New Jersey. Blackwood is a part of Gloucester Township in Camden County, New Jersey, USA.
This church was built way back in 1850. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. This means it is recognized as a special place in American history.
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Why is Solomon Wesley Church Important?
The Solomon Wesley United Methodist Church is important for its history and its unique building style. It tells a story about the community of Davistown where it stands.
The Story of Davistown Community
The Davistown community began with a family settlement. In 1813, a man named Solomon Davis bought a piece of land. He paid $10.00 for four acres.
Solomon Davis and his wife, Reason Valinda Boyer, had eleven children. Between 1820 and 1840, the Davis family bought more land. This land became the Davistown settlement. By 1840, it was a small town. In 1842, a road was built through the area. It is still called Davistown Road today.
Building the Church
In 1850, the people of Davistown built their church. Solomon Davis Sr., Noble Davis, and Perry Frisby bought the land for the church. These three men were a father, his son, and his son-in-law.
Over its long history, the Solomon Wesley Church has been part of two different church groups. It was first an African Methodist Episcopal church. Later, it became a United Methodist church.
The Church Cemetery
Next to the church is a cemetery. Many members of the Davis family are buried there. Other families, like the Shaw family, also have relatives buried there.
The cemetery is also the resting place for many brave soldiers. Veterans who fought in the American Civil War are buried here. This includes soldiers from the United States Colored Troops (USCT). Veterans from the Spanish–American War, World War I, and World War II are also buried in the cemetery.
Special Building Style
The church building itself is special. It shows a style called "mid-19th century vernacular architecture." This means it was built in a common, local style from the mid-1800s.
Davistown School for Colored Children
On December 5, 1870, the Davistown School for Colored Children was opened. This school was the only one for Black children in the county. It was also the only two-story building in the area at that time.
The Davistown church is so important that its picture is one of eight buildings shown around the seal of Gloucester Township. It is listed on both state and national lists of historic places.
Restoring the Church and New Beginnings
Efforts to restore the church began in the 1990s. The church members at that time started working on the inside of the building. They also made plans to fix the outside.
In 2012, the United Methodist Church sold the Solomon Wesley Church. It was bought by Pastor Toki L. Taylor. Pastor Taylor is part of the Fruit of the Spirit Ministries. Because of this, the church was renamed "Fruit of the Spirit Ministries (home of the historic Solomon Wesley United Methodist Church)."
Pastor Taylor, along with church leaders and members, started raising money. They wanted to restore the church building so it could be used again. They received help from Gloucester Township and people from the Davistown community. Members of the United Methodist Church also offered support.
A three-day event was held from August 31 to September 2, 2012. This event helped raise money for the church. On November 18, 2012, the church building was officially dedicated.
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