St. John A.M.E Church

This photo depicts the church on 682 Plymouth Street, which was built in 1914 to house the congregation of the St. John African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church. A.M.E church grew out of the early 19th century missionary efforts of Jacob Blakmere, a white transient pastor who organized churches with Methodist theology throughout Ohio. The A.M.E. church in Worthington provided an opportunity for African American community members to worship together. While the congregation initially met in members’ homes, the church acquired its first building, Bethel A.M.E, in 1897. Responding to growth in membership, the A.M.E. congregation moved into a newly built Plymouth Street church building in 1914, renaming the church St John A.M.E. The congregation remained here until 2004, when St John’s A.M.E moved to 7700 Crosswoods Drive.