In The Beginning

In 1837, the Reverend Richard Williams established a society in Rochester, New York with 26 members and a local preacher was licensed and placed in charge.

Little is known about this A.M.E. society in Rochester.  However, Bishop Richard R. Wright, in his Centennial Encyclopedia of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, captures two of the pastors of the A.M.E. Society in Rochester in this period.  The Reverend Charles Henry Green pastored the A.M.E. Society in Rochester from 1872-1874 and the Reverend James H. Nichols pastored the church.

The A.M.E. Society in Rochester, NY had disappeared by 1906. In the Journal of Proceedings of the Eighty-Sixth Session of the New York Annual Conference held at Bethel A.M.E. Church, New York City, NY from June 27 to July 2, 1906, The Committee on Stations, Missions, and Circuits recommends as new work, Rochester.

A New Start

For more than one year a small group of A.M.E. Christians living in Rochester, NY traveled to Buffalo, NY to attend church services. In 1956, this group organized and began holding church meetings in Rochester. The members rotated meeting places between the homes of Mr Murray Allen, Ms Pauline Mack and Reverend Georgia Hughes. This group actively campaigned for members, and shortly, Mrs Artie Mae Turner, her daughters, Iris and Vivian, and Mr and Mrs William Dukes joined. Even though the group had begun worshiping at a home in Rochester, close ties were kept with the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Buffalo. As the group grew spiritually and in number it became necessary to find larger quarters for the purpose of worshiping. They began selling food from the small restaurant of Reverend Georgia Hughes in order to raise money. When the group saved adequate funding they began renting the Community Hall on Kelly Street. This is when Mr Jacqueline Logan Neal & family and Mrs Lessie Slater joined the very determined group.

Devastation Touches Baber Chapel

In 1968, the Conference appointed the Reverend John A Cavers as Pastor. Reverend Cavers was instrumental in increasing the membership further and paying off the second mortgage on the property. This was also the year of the first of two fires at Baber Chapel. The first fire in the fall of 1968 damaged the rear of the edifice and the basement area. No one was injured in the fire, but many important church records were lost. Reverend Cavers Pastored at Baber Chapel until 1970.

From 1970 to 1971, Baber Chapel was without a Pastor, and the Reverend Dr Henry Mitchell was appointed as overseer of Baber Chapel. Under Dr Mitchell’s guidance, several young ministers from Colgate Divinity School in Rochester served as interns to keep the congregation moving forward. The interns were Reverend John H Dixon, Reverend Louis Harvey, Reverend John D Jones, and Reverend John Bright Jr.

In 1971, the Conference appointed Reverend John D Jones as Pastor. Under Reverend Jones, the Baber Chapel congregation grew to new spiritual heights. Reverend Jones served until 1976.

In 1976, the second fire swept through the Baber Chapel edifice. Again no one was hurt in the fire, but this time the building was uninhabitable for several weeks. The entire building was either fire or smoke damaged. Firemen shattered the beautiful antique stained glass windows as they worked to extinguish the flames.

The congregation dwindled from this, and a few dedicated members struggled to keep the Baber Chapel AME family together. Times were very hard then, but the group remained faithful and came through it all much stronger and more determined. Mr Benjamin McBride, a member of Baber Chapel and Head of Security at the Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) building in Rochester, made it possible for the congregation to hold services at that building until Baber Chapel was restored.

Reverend Raymond Pennerman was appointed Pastor of Baber Chapel by the Conference in 1976. He was the astute leader who steered the members back into their home at 62 North Union Street. Reverend Pennerman served until 1978.

Baber Chapel Continues Organization and Growth

In 1978, Reverend Bealie Stancil was appointed Pastor of Baber Chapel. Under Reverend Stancil’s leadership, the Official Church Board meetings were organized and refined, and the church finances greatly improved. The Stewardess Board was rededicated, and white vestments and head coverings were added for the sacrament service. The congregation celebrated the burning of the first mortgage on August 5, 1979, in the spirit of “Through It All.” Reverend Stancil’s tenured lasted until 1981.

In 1981, the Conference appointed Reverend Dr John H Dixon to Baber Chapel. Reverend Dixon was the visionary. He had a vision of outgrowing 62 North Union Street and moving to a larger facility where the ministry could expand into the community. Reverend Dixon set his sites on the edifice at 550 Meigs Street and the New York Annual Conference was again petitioned. This congregation was not unfamiliar to the Presiding Bishop, The Rt Reverend Richard Allen Hilderbrand, since he was a Trustee to the Conference who secured the original mortgage for Baber Chapel in 1963. Bishop Hilderbrand and Presiding Elder Vernon Lowe were instrumental in arranging financing for the purchase of the property at 550 Meigs Street. On May 25, 1982, the purchase of 550 Meigs Street closed for $250,000. The property at 62 North Union was then sold for $100,000.

Walking to a New Beginning

In a historic march of the masses, Reverend Dixon led the members to their new home in a “New Beginning.” The first sermon preached was “A Father’s Love.” The text was taken from St Luke 15; the scripture subject was “The Prodigal Son.”

The new edifice at 550 Meigs Street had seating accommodation for 700 people in the lower sanctuary and 300 people in the balcony. The property holding contained a separate building with room for expansive parking.

The dedication service was held on September 18, 1982, with the Rt Reverend Richard Allen Hilderbrand, Bishop of the First Episcopal District, presiding. Also in attendance at this service was the Reverend Harry White Sr, a longtime friend and advisor of the Baber Chapel congregation. At this service, the name of the congregation was officially changed to Baber African Methodist Episcopal Church. Reverend Dixon served as Pastor until 1991. During his tenure the congregation had grown in great numbers.

Baber Expands into the Rochester Community

In 1991 the conference appointed Reverend Norvel Goff Sr. as pastor. In Reverend Goff’s tenure Baber purchased the Christian Life Center at the corner of Meigs Street and Clinton Street, the Administration Building at 560 Meigs Street, and the parsonage. Baber also installed an elevator to transport members between the church’s three levels, renovated the sanctuary and Pastor’s office and watched 17 men and women respond to the call to preach. Baber hosted the 171st Session of the New York Annual Conference and the Second Session of the Western New York Annual Conference.

In Rochester, Reverend Goff established the Baber Center for Social Change and Economic Development, founded the Faith Minister’s Alliance, established the Clergy-Law Enforcement Council and served as president and CEO of the Greater Rochester Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Persons (NAACP). His accomplishments were often herald in the church and the community.

On January 9, 2005, the Reverend Marlowe VN Washington was assigned the Pastorate of Baber. Under the leadership of Reverend Washington, the Baber Center for Social Change and Economic Development merged into  Rise Up Rochester, Inc. – a human service agency that provides support to crime victims and their families working to establish and maintain a nonviolent culture. Reverend Washington also led an anti-no snitching campaign that erected billboards throughout the city of Rochester called, “You Bet I Told.”

A New Day Arises

On June 18, 2010, the Reverend James C. Simmons became the 14th pastor of Baber. Since Reverend Simmons’ appointment Baber has experienced a much needed spiritual, financial and administrative resurrection. For example, the parsonage mortgage has been paid off, the administrative building mortgage has been been paid off, the worship center mortgage had been renegotiated with a local bank, and Baber’s aging deficit has been paid in full.

In Pastor Simmons’ tenure Baber has also installed a projection system, new roofs have been placed on the worship center and parsonage, the sanctuary has been renovated, countless needed repairs, purchases and improvements have been made and Baber hosted the 16th19th , and 23rd Session of the Western New York Annual Conference. Pastor Simmons continues to valiantly lead Baber under the mantra “There is Nothing too Hard for God” derived from 2nd Kings 3:18.