The property and original church was given to the colored people by the Quakers. The first Pastors on record were Reverend Henry Matthews and Reverend Joseph Henry from the period of 1866 – 1867. The church was also used for a school for quite a number of years.
Due to the conditions of the former building of worship, no bathroom facilities or space for an addition, the pastor and members of John Wesley decided to build a new sanctuary. September 1974 it was decided to raise money to build a new church under the pastorate of Reverend Clarence Govans. Two years later, April 1976 the opening service of the new church was held.
John Wesley Church members had taken out a twenty-year mortgage on the new church building. Due to a yearly mortgage drive, faith and prayer, the members of John Wesley were able to pay off the twenty year mortgage within ten years.
Pastors |
|
| Pastor Darius K. Butler, Sr. | 2014 – Present |
| Reverend Larry D. Sellers | 2012 – 2014 |
| Reverend George L. Winkfield | 2010 - 2012 |
| Reverend Angela Barksdale Martin | 2006 - 2010 |
| Reverend John T. Smith (interim) | -------- 2006 |
| Reverend William J. Butler | 1995 - 2007 |
| Reverend Dunmore | ---------------- |
| Reverend Benita Davis | ---------------- |
| Reverend William J. Booker | ---------------- |
| Reverend Clarence Govans | ---------------- |
| Reverend James Smith | ---------------- |
| Reverend W.J. Norman | 1964 – 1967 |
| Reverend Thomas Reed[1] | 1957 – 1964 |
| Reverend Eugene Boone[2] | 1951 – 1957 |
| Reverend Joseph W. Carroll | 1947 – 1951 |
| Reverend John H. Foye | 1945 – 1947 |
| Reverend James A. Arter | 1941 – 1945 |
| Reverend George T.C. Bell | 1936 – 1941 |
| Reverend Johnson | 1935 – 1936 |
| Reverend E.D. Hall | 1928 – 1935 |
| Reverend Charles E. Jones | 1922 – 1928 |
| Reverend D.L. Washington | 1917 – 1922 |
| Reverend James L. Brown | 1912 – 1917 |
| Reverend Barnett | 1908 – 1912 |
| Reverend Joseph Owings | 1904 – 1907 |
| Reverend George A. Davis | 1901 – 1904 |
| Reverend Love | 1900 – 1901 |
| Reverend W. H. Jones | 1897 – 1900 |
| Reverend Landon W. Briggs | 1894 – 1897 |
| Reverend N. O. Osborne | 1892 – 1893 |
| Reverend Daniel Collins | 1887 – 1892 |
| Reverend William H. Brooks | 1884 – 1886 |
| Reverend A.D. Valentine | 1881 – 1883 |
| Reverend S. Brown | 1878 – 1879 |
| Reverend D. Aquilla | 1875 – 1878 |
| Reverend Daniel P. Johnson | 1872 – 1874 |
| Reverend J.B. Snowden | 1871 – 1872 |
| Reverend Stephen Laskies | 1868 - 1869 |
| Reverend Henry Matthews & Reverend Joseph Henry | 1866 - 1867 |
| [1] Mrs. Agnes Reed was the organizer of the Youth’s Abingdon Chorus [2] Rev. Boone passed away on December 21, 1957. Mrs. Martha Boone, his wife worked faithfully with us until we were able to get a full time Pastor. Reverend Lewis Gwynn also rendered services during this period of time. |
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