Avenue of Faith

Avenue of Faith. Faith, Family, and Education . 9th Avenue South Corridor. This neighborhood is partly defined by the many churches situated along 9th Avenue S. These churches have been housed in imposing buildings, modest structures, and tiny storefronts. Although many date back decades, all have enriched the community's life through spiritual and social outreach., All seven major black denominations have played a role in the moral and social development of the neighborhood. In 1939, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) prepared a Historical Records Survey of churches throughout Florida. At that time, approximately 19 of the 123 churches in St. Petersburg operated in this neighborhood. By 1951, 24 of the 139 churches in the city operated here. Some of the original buildings remain, while others have been lost, many due to the construction of I-275. Among others, you can see the following churches in the neighborhood:, Queen Street Church of God in Christ, 1732 9th Avenue S. , Initially called the “13th Avenue Store-front Mission," the Queen Street church of God in Christ was organized in 1945 in a storefront on 13th Avenue between 21st and 22nd Streets. The congregation built this building as their current sanctuary in 1946., 20th Street Church of Christ, 820 20th Street S. , Starting with tent meetings in 1927, the organization of the 20th Street Church of Christ was a cooperative effort between a Black evangelist, Brother Marshall M. Keeble, and two white men, Brothers Richardson and M.A. Dye, who worshiped at the Church of Christ on Ninth Street N. The church grew rapidly with one tent meeting in 1929 adding 92 people to the congregation. By 1932, the church constructed a small white building at 820 20th Street, which had a baptismal pool described as "very cold and scary looking." Although there is a new main sanctuary for this congregation, their original building is still part of the church complex., Greater Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, 1921 20th Street S. , The first meeting of the Greater Mount Zion AME Church took place at Just-Rite Cleaners, where the church's first pastor, Reverend EL Gillians, was employed. Fulfilling an immediate goal of purchasing land, the first services were held in a new wood frame building in 1925 at 919 21 20th Street S. The original building was demolished after this sanctuary was built in 1948. This congregation has since moved., Stewart Memorial CME Church, 2137 9th Avenue S. , Organized in 1911, Stewart's Memorial CME Church erected its first sanctuary prior to 1913 in an area known as Pepper Town. Named after Bishop G.W. Stewart, the congregation re-erected the sanctuary at 2137 9th Avenue S. in 1929. In 1937, Miss Elise Friedgen, a white winter resident and member of Pasadena Community Church, donated a new educational building in memory of her late brother, Charles Friedgen. Constructed adjacent to the sanctuary, the building provided Sunday school classrooms and an assembly room. The congregation continued to use this facility until 1985, when they relocated., Mount Zion Primitive Baptist Church, 2051 9th Avenue S. , Marked by two stone lions in front, the Mount Zion Primitive Baptist Church building is now occupied by the Abundant Life Ministry congregation. Established in 1927, the Mount Zion Primitive Baptist Church congregation initially met in a commercial building above a store on 22nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues S. Services moved to a small remodeled house on 26th Street until the church was built around 1930., Elim Seventh Day Adventist Church, 2101 (2147) 9th Avenue S. , Originally organized in 1915 in Pepper Town, the Elim Seventh Day Adventist congregation met at several locations before purchasing the lot at the corner of 9th Avenue S. and 21st Street S. in 1925 and constructing a wood frame church building in 1927. As the congregation expanded. the building was renovated several times before the congregation moved to a new location in 1976. The New Congregational Church of God now owns this building. , , Mount Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist, 948 20th Street S. , In 1928, some members of the First Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church decided to form a new congregation and organized the Mount Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church. A small, wood-frame building on 20th Street S. served as the original sanctuary. With a growing congregation, the church built a new sanctuary in 1946 at 948 20th Street S., which now serves as the church's Children's Center. The current sanctuary is located at 955 20th Street S., (captions) , Photo courtesy of the City of St. Petersburg , Photo courtesy of the City of St. Petersburg , Photo courtesy of the City of St. Petersburg , Elim Seventh Day Adventist Church. Photo courtesy of anonymous donor. , Mount Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church. Photo courtesy of the St. Petersburg Museum of History.