A Brief History of Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church
“It is evident that master carpenters and master brick masons built a monument of love and sincere devotion to our Heavenly Father.” No place is this more accurate that at Metropolitan AME Zion Church in Washington, North Carolina. A church that has faced unthinkable hardships and unparalleled triumphs, Metropolitan stands as a reminder of what is possible.
The need for a separate church in Washington, NC was articulated as early as 1861. At that point, blacks and whites were worshipping in the same building. Blacks, however, were relegated to the upper annex of the church building and forbidden to teach or preach. Fortunately, many visited the outlying plantations to bring the Gospel to the slaves there.
Between 1862 and 1864, a small wooden structure intended for African Methodist Episcopal Zionites was built and burned twice—once by Federalists and once by Confederates. But AME Zion Church members marched on.
In 1865, Metropolitan teamed up with the Masonic lodge to buy the land—the same land where the church stands today. They worked together to erect the building that served as church, school, and Mason meeting hall. Eight years later, Hiriam Masonic Lodge deeded to Metropolitan the land that was needed to build the first AME Zion Church in Washington. By 1907, Metropolitan was able to buy out Hiriam and become the sole owners of the land.
Former slaves and their children built Metropolitan AME Zion Church. The entire community worked together to bring it to fruition. In 1909, the present church building was completed under the guidance of Reverend J. H. Love. The running of the church from that point reflected the members’ needs to hold leadership roles and have a say in their church. Metropolitan was strengthened by its members and by their leadership.
Even at that time, the church nurtured its youth. Although public education was not introduced to Washington until 1910, children of Metropolitan were already being instructed academically and spiritually. Their mentors saw to it that they were well prepared for adulthood.
Under Rev. Rowlins, the strength of the church’s leadership and organization allowed it to continue to thrive, even through the Depression. From 1915 to 1921 and 1932 to 1934, the entire interior church and main auditorium were floored and sealed overhead. New furnishings were also brought into the sanctuary.
Metropolitan was not left untouched by the Depression, however. Terrorist groups pitted poor Whites against poor Blacks. But the members of Metropolitan continued caring for one another. Landowners who owned small businesses and farmed would share their food with poorer families. Church members worked to continue the academic, spiritual, and material growth of the children. This self-reliance and hard work were the keys to getting Metropolitan through the Depression.
A drastic decline in Metropolitan’s membership began in the 1950s. After the boom of the 1930s and 1940s, this major change affected the church’s mission work. It was caused by several coinciding factors. Blacks were beginning to migrate from rural areas to urban areas and from the South to the North, usually in search of jobs. Strict Jim Crow policies kept Blacks out of decent jobs in the South and forced young, educated Blacks to go northward. The members who had helped build the church had died or were dying. The original church leaders were gone; the children were leaving. The remaining members were losing their sense of purpose and facing a spiritual void.
This crisis in faith nearly paralyzed Metropolitan for the next 30 years and was reflected in both the religious and secular communities. For too long, no Blacks were on the county commission or in managerial or supervisory positions in the county offices or county hospital. Neither Black restaurants nor Black publications thrived. Blacks in responsible social service organizations, bank teller positions, or city planning commissions were rare.
The 1970s brought the return of some of Metropolitan’s children. They were now college-educated and ready to teach the next generation. But Jim Crow prevented integration beyond the public schools. Public housing forced Blacks to be segregated from Whites and from one another. It also crippled the self-reliance that had been so important—people could no longer grow their own vegetables, raise chickens, or fish in local waterways. Their health and pride were damaged; food stamps had to be issued. A lack of transportation kept people away from the church. The lower-income members who had been the backbone of the church were now absent. But this would not last forever.
The late 1980s saw a revival within Metropolitan. Under Rev. David L. Moore, Metropolitan has been working toward its former glory for the last 16 years. Members began with efforts within the church: a soup kitchen, infant mortality prevention, a young musicians’ group. These efforts continue today with considerable expansion. Three organizations—Metropolitan Housing and CDC, Metropolitan Community Credit Union, and Metropolitan Community Health Services—continue to faithfully serve the residents of Washington and surrounding areas.
