WALLACE A.M.E. ZION CELEBRATES 100 YEARS

New York, NY … Wallace Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church (Summit, New Jersey), where Reverend Dr. Denison D. Harrield, Jr., has been Pastor for decades, celebrated its 100th anniversary in September 2023. Wallace Chapel is in the Jersey City District of the New Jersey Annual Conference of the North Eastern Episcopal District, of which Bishop Dennis V. Proctor is the Presiding Bishop.

The Grand Worship Service celebrating Wallace Chapel’s 100th anniversary was held on Sunday, September 10, 2023. Bishop Dennis V. Proctor was invited to preach the anniversary sermon but, due to illness, was unable to do so. Missionary Supervisor, Mrs. D. Diane Proctor was able to attend, and Presiding Elder Rev. Dr. Laticia Hill Godette preached an encouraging and uplifting anniversary sermon.

Rev. Dr. John E. Carrington (97 years old), the only living former pastor of the church, was in attendance, along with Summit’s Mayor, Common Council members, city residents, other church representatives, and the Wallace Chapel Church family. Reflecting on the service, Rev. Harrield said, “Everyone had a glorious time worshiping God as we thanked God for the battles and blessings over these 100 years.”

Also included in the celebration were the outstanding contributions and achievements of Wallace Chapel’s second pastor, Rev. Dr. Florence S. Randolph, a former General President of the Women Home & Overseas Missions Society (WH&OMS) of the A.M.E. Zion Church and founder of the Supply Department of the WH&OMS. Because of her untiring, diligent efforts, Wallace Chapel is not only listed as a historic site on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places and on the New Jersey Women’s Heritage Trail but was also designated a Historical Landmark of The A.M.E. Zion Church in 2008 by the General Conference of the A.M.E. Zion Church in Atlanta, GA.

Rev. Harrield said the theme, “100 Years of Battles and Blessings While Trusting God,” is most appropriate and speaks to “how the congregation stuck together the two years during COVID. Every member stayed with us.” He said, “There’s been so many [other] things; we’ve grown; we’ve really grown spiritually in terms of the faith of our membership and seeing how God has blessed us during these years in spite of the challenges, the battles and the struggles that we’ve had.” The theme, he said, also “reflected Wallace Chapel’s devotion to the community by bringing affordable housing to the area, by opening its doors to help other churches and groups, and by having the historical significance of the church to the area recognized.”

Rev. Harrield also shared an article recently written in the Morristown My Paper by Elsie Walker about Wallace Chapel. Rev. Harrield provided Ms. Walker with the church’s historical background, as well as present-day church milestones and community outreach projects. In 2009, Wallace Chapel members were active in promoting and working for the building of more low-income, affordable housing in Summit. Morris Habitat for Humanity was the direct sponsor in partnership with the Summit Interfaith Council, of which Pastor Harrield was the President, the City of Summit, the Summit Affordable Housing Corporation, and others. On January 15, 2012, these efforts were realized when six units of low-income, affordable housing at 39 Morris Avenue (one block from Wallace Chapel) were dedicated.

“Light overcomes darkness, and we are thankful that this newspaper in Morristown, which we had never heard of, reached out to us and wrote this positive news story.”

Rev. Harrield said, “Wallace Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church is thankful to God for His many blessings as we continue to be a shining beacon of light, faith, hope, and love. We are not a mega-church in terms of membership, building or budget size, etc., but we try to be a mega light that brightly shines in this community to make a difference for good for all people.”