Before Arizona became a state in 1912, many people were settling in the territory from around the country and establishing communities that would bring people together for generations. For many in the Black community, the church is more than a place of worship; it’s a cornerstone of culture, history, and resilience. Having a relationship with God is transformative, and finding a safe, culturally affirming place to worship enhances that connection. Let's delve into the history of African American churches in Phoenix, Arizona, exploring their origins, their role in the community, and their enduring legacy.
Tanner Chapel AME Church, the oldest African-American congregation in Arizona.
Early Foundations and Growth
One example of this community building was the establishment of Tanner Chapel AME Church (originally the African Methodist Episcopal Mission) in 1887. The African Methodist Episcopal Mission Church was settled by African American settlers fleeing the post-Reconstruction South and seeking new opportunities in the West. It was founded by Sister Bell and Reverend H. H. Hawkins in 1887 and built a church on 2nd Street and E. Church after Bishop Benjamin T. Tanner. In 1929, the church moved to its permanent location at 8th Street and E.
Shortly after Tanner Chapel AME’s establishment in 1889, other churches such as the Second Colored Baptists Church, the Colored Methodists Episcopal Church, and the African Methodist Episcopal Church were founded in the same area (Minorities in Phoenix, 1994). These churches served a growing population of African Americans from 26 in Arizona in 1870 to 43,000 in 1950.
Segregation and Community Building
From about 1920 to 1955, African-Americans migrated to Phoenix and settled in three predominantly segregated neighborhoods east and west of downtown Phoenix. As the population grew, African-Americans owned and funded their own businesses, churches and recreation centers, and entrepreneurs in these segregated communities offered the first new homes to an emerging middle class. Phoenix built schools and parks, and addressed the grim housing issue with the first Matthew Henson housing project.
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A series of informal property restrictions also prevented “non-whites” from purchasing or renting homes north of Van Buren Street. First introduced by the territorial government in 1909, school segregation was mandated by Arizona law until 1954. By 1953, Phoenix schools were desegregated, and many families began to move away from the inner city.
Historic Landmarks and Their Significance
A 2004 African-American property survey conducted by Phoenix tells the story of the city's earliest Black residents through properties of historical significance. Here are a few notable landmarks:
- Swindall Tourist Inn (1913): The Swindall Tourist Inn is a significant example of public accommodations for African-Americans in Phoenix during the era of segregation. The Swindall House, as it was called then, is the only known surviving African-American boarding house in Phoenix, according to the Phoenix Historic Preservation Commission. The home was later purchased by Golden and Elvira Swindall, who continued to run a boarding house even after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination in public accommodations.
- Paul Lawrence Dunbar School (1925): The Dunbar School was built by the Phoenix Union Elementary School District in 1925 to accommodate African-American students. In Phoenix, student segregation continued until 1953.
- George Washington Carver High School (1926): Located in the Warehouse District, the Phoenix Union Colored High School, later renamed the George Washington Carver High School in 1943, was built exclusively for African American students. The school closed in 1954 - one year after a judge at the Maricopa County Superior Court ruled school segregation in Phoenix schools as unconstitutional.
- Lucy Phillips Memorial C.M.E. Church (1947): The Colored Methodist Church, organized in 1909, was a small congregation that worshiped in a White church until members built their own church in 1911 at 647 E. Jefferson St. Around 1925, it was renamed the Lucy Phillips Memorial C.M.E. Church in honor of the wife of the first presiding bishop, the Rev. Charles Henry Phillips.
- Eastlake Park: Blacks flocked to Eastlake Park using the city's trolley system. Several significant events occurred at Eastlake Park in the early 1900s, according to historians with the city of Phoenix. Booker T. Washington spoke there in 1911 at the Great Emancipation Jubilee. W. E. B. DuBois also addressed a crowd at the park at a later date after attending a reception held in his honor by members of the Second Colored Baptist Church.
These landmarks stand as testaments to the resilience and determination of the African American community in Phoenix.
Tanner Chapel AME Church: A Beacon of Hope
Tanner Chapel is the oldest African-American congregation in Arizona, first organized in Phoenix in 1887. It is part of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the country's first African-American denomination. Some of the church members over the years have been leading Phoenix politicians and civil-rights activists, such as former Phoenix Councilman Calvin Goode and the late legislator Cloves Campbell Sr. Additionally, Tanner Chapel is the only church in Arizona where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. is known to have given a sermon.
On June 3rd, 1964, Martin Luther King Jr. visited Arizona to speak at Arizona State University to a group of 8,000 about the civil rights bill and the importance of containing nonviolence in ending segregation. Before speaking at the Goodwin Stadium at ASU, he took time in the morning to give a short sermon at Tanner Chapel AME Church, the only church to receive a sermon during his visit.
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Two years later in 1966, Cloves C. Campbell Sr, another member of Tanner Chapel AME Church, was elected to the House of Representatives and was the first African American to be elected in Arizona. He served two terms and sponsored bills to provide students with bilingual education, increase cultural diversity in textbooks, and create South Mountain and Gateway Community Colleges. Furthermore, he introduced a bill to establish a Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1971 after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in 1968, years before the federal government passed the holiday bill in 1983.
Another member of the Tanner Chapel AME Church, Representative Arthur “Art” M. Hamilton, also supported the establishment of Martin Luther King Jr Day. The Representative served for 26 years in the Arizona House of Representatives on a platform of crime reduction and better education for children starting in 1971. He was the first and only Arizonian to be elected President of the National Council of State Legislatures and he participated in education promotion such as the Black Town Hall conference on “Blacks in Education” in 1988. Through the difficulties of the passage of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, including adding and taking away other holidays in exchange for the holiday, Hamilton worked with his fellow legislators on both sides of the House as well as the public to help get it passed in 1992, the last state in the United States to do so.
Currently, the Tanner Chapel AME Church is under the leadership of Reverend Dr. Benjamin N. Thomas, Sr. who in 2001 founded a nonprofit organization called the Tanner Community Development Corporation (TCDC) to, “…provide assistance to the physically challenged, the aged and sick, needy children, families, and the homeless. The TCDC also sponsors various programs for health and housing, literacy, education, financial, and employment opportunities. Church continues to strive to bridge the gap between church and community” (BlackPast, 2014). The church still holds weekly services and provides 60-plus ministries and programs for the community.
| Church | Year Founded | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Tanner Chapel AME Church | 1887 | Oldest African-American congregation in Arizona; visited by Martin Luther King Jr. |
| Lucy Phillips Memorial C.M.E. Church | 1909 (organized) | Renamed in honor of the wife of the first presiding bishop. |
| Southminster Presbyterian Church | 1954 | The only African-American Presbyterian church in the Synod of the Sun and the Presbytery of the Grand Canyon. |
Southminster Presbyterian Church: Continuing the Legacy
Southminster Presbyterian Church in Phoenix, Arizona, a historic African American congregation in the PC(USA), celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2024. Chartered in 1954 by the Rev. George Benjamin Brooks, the church has been a beacon of hope, faith, and progress in the Phoenix community. Southminster is the only African American church in the Synod of the Sun and the Presbytery of the Grand Canyon, bringing diverse perspectives and experiences to the wider church family and enriching the tapestry of the faith community.
The journey began in 1952 when the Rev. Robert P. Johnson of the Board of National Missions of the United Presbyterian Church was invited by Synod Executive the Rev. Douglas Vance and Sunday school missionary the Rev. Claude L. Morton to study the many new emerging communities in Arizona with the idea of starting new Presbyterian churches in each of them. The Broadway area of Phoenix seemed ideal for a new church. The Rev. G. Benjamin Brooks was asked to make an initial assessment to determine whether there were sufficient people in the Broadway area to justify a new church. According to the church archives, the survey revealed that there was no one in the area with a Presbyterian background, but that there was sufficient interest to explore the possibilities of establishing a church in the community. The first service was held in November 1953 in a small, rented building. By March of 1954, the new community was organized as a congregation with 52 charter members.
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Under Brooks’ leadership, Southminster quickly became a vital part of the community, offering numerous programs for youth and adults. The church's commitment to social justice has been a hallmark of its mission, advocating for civil rights and serving the marginalized. “The church, if it is to be an instrument for the Gospel of Christ, must serve the community and people with or without a religious affiliation,” Brooks was fond of saying. Southminster has been a pioneer in various social initiatives, including early childhood education, after-school programs, substance abuse counseling, and feeding programs for the homeless and elderly. It has also been at the forefront of the civil rights movement, tirelessly working to promote equality and justice for all. The church has been a catalyst for political activism, empowering its members to seek public office and make a difference in their community. It has taken Matthew 25 to heart, serving the poor and enriching the lives of the hopeless.
During the Covid pandemic, Southminster adapted to the challenges by transitioning to virtual worship services. This new tool allowed the church to stay connected with its congregation and expand its reach through technology.
Today, under the leadership of the Rev. Reginald Ragland, Southminster continues its legacy of faith, hope and service. Now that the church has celebrated its 70th anniversary, it looks forward to the future with optimism and excitement. “Southminster’s story is still being written,” Ragland says. “We are committed to our mission of loving God and loving all, and we will continue to be a place of deep community, welcome and service, striving to make a positive impact in the lives of those around us - the salt of the community.”
The church at 1923 E. Broadway Road was the only African-American Presbyterian church in Phoenix when it was founded in 1954. The Rev. George Benjamin Brooks, a Phoenix civil-rights leader, was the founding pastor. He died in 2007 at age 81. Southminster celebrated its 60th anniversary in March 2014.
As I continue my own faith journey, I encourage you to explore these spaces, connect with God, and find the fellowship you need to grow.
