Shiloh’s History

The church later became part of the East Baltimore circuit which included Shiloh A.M.E. and St. Stephens A.M.E. in Essex, Maryland. The minister preached at Shiloh in the morning and preached at St. Stephens in the afternoon.

In March of 1913 under the pastorate of the Rev. T.R. Sinkfield, Shiloh was asked to move from the Merryman’s Lane location. Following a vote taken at a church conference held on March 12, 1913, the congregation voted to dissolve rather than construct a new building. A little over a month later on April 13, 1913, at the behest of Bishop Levi Coppin, Rev. Sinkfield officially transferred thirteen members and the church treasury to Bethel A.M.E. Church, thus dissolving the congregation.

Fortunately, God was not through with us yet, a faithful group of nine members were resolved to continue the congregation and joined Oak Street A.M.E. Church under the pastorate of the Rev. Joseph Gwynn. He, having previously declared to Bishop Coppin, Presiding Elder Hill, Rev. Sinkfield, and the general public, that it was a shame for the A.M.E. Church to close out, while other Churches were organizing all around them, and that as soon as the First Shiloh is closed [he] would open another Thus he directed the faithful nine members from the First Shiloh to meet him at the home of Sister Annie Williams, 2827 Simpson Street, on April 9, 1913, to discuss the organization of a new church.

At the 96th Session of the Baltimore Annual Conference held in May of 1913, the congregation was re-established as a mission church and placed on a circuit with Oak Street A.M.E. Church, with the Rev. Joseph Gwynn serving as pastor. Rev. Joseph Gwynn served as Shiloh’s fourteenth and twenty-third pastor. Before the annual conference, Rev. Gwynn and the faithful nine attempted to purchase property on East 28th Street for $1,500. It wasn't until after the repeal of the segregation law that the law that the congregation was able to purchase property in Waverly at 631-633 East 28th Street, Baltimore, Maryland. The modest membership struggled to meet its first mortgage payment of twenty-five dollars. Being nine dollars short, Rev. Gwynn personally paid the remaining amount. The congregation began to grow and flourish in its new location. Rev. Gwynn served as Shiloh's pastor for three years. He was succeeded by the Rev. J.C. McEaddy, who also served as pastor of Oak Street and Shiloh. At the 102nd Session of the Baltimore Annual Conference, the Rev. Henry Thomas was appointed pastor of Shiloh, thus ending the Oak Street and Shiloh circuit.

For eighteen years after its relocation, the church was a vital part of the community. During this time the Reverends Joseph Gwynn, J. C. McEaddy, Henry Thomas, J. W. Wing, J. Frank Howard, J. G. Martin, James E. Lee, Matthew Moore, and H. W. Lewis served as Shiloh 's pastors. However, in the fall of 1931 the fifteenth pastor. mortgage on the property which was held by the Waverly Building Association was foreclosed, the congregation’s financial crisis was compounded when the church building was condemned by the city.

Shortly thereafter, Presiding Elder John W. Norris reappointed the Rev. Gwynn to take temporary charge of the condemned property and few remaining members. The Building Association gave Rev. Gwynn and the congregation ten days to raise the necessary $325.00 to save the church. Through the grace of God, Rev. Gwynn and the members raised the necessary funds to save property, tear down the old building, and begin constructing another. Unfortunately, during rebuilding and restoring the congregation Rev. Gwynn was transferred to another congregation.

In 1936, the Rev. Purnell Wilson became the twenty-eighth pastor of the church. He and the members worked diligently to beautify the church. Due to their dedication and commitment, the church had a Mortgage Burning Service on Tuesday, November 26, 1940, the mortgage was burned by Shiloh's oldest member, Sister Lula Brewington. Shortly thereafter, Rev. Wilson was transferred to another church and Rev. William Vernon Sewell became the pastor of the church.

In 1952, Baltimore City purchased the Waverly section to make the city's first Renewal Settlement. Rev. Sewell had the awesome challenge of finding a new location for the church. For several years, the congregation worshiped at 1626 Druid Hill Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland. During that time, Rev. Sewell and the Trustees purchased a lot at Albert and Lafayette Avenue. Under the leadership of the late Bishop Hemingway, ground was broken to build the church. Unfortunately, the lot was sold, and Shiloh again had to search for a new home. Then in April 1958, the congregation purchased the land and the building at the church's present location, 2601 Lyndhurst Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland. Rev. William Vernon Sewell was the pastor of Shiloh until he died in 1964.

In 1964, the Rev. Edward C. Wilson was appointed pastor of the church. He came with a great mind to work; under his leadership, the exterior of the church was renovated. Rev. Wilson served as pastor of the church until he was appointed a Presiding Elder in 1979. The Rev. Cordell E. Hunter was appointed pastor of the church, serving Shiloh for three years. In 1983, the Rev. Theodore Williams became pastor of Shiloh. An energetic minister, who worked diligently to promote a sense of African American pride among our members.

On September 16, 1990, history was made when Reverend Charlotte Clemons was assigned as the first woman pastor of Shiloh. She came at a difficult moment in Shiloh's history. However, Rev. Clemons met the challenge with great energy and spirit. Under her pastorate, the church began to grow and flourish once again. Rev. Clemons worked hard to improve the facilities of the church, including the renovation of the interior and exterior of the building. In 2001, under the leadership of Rev. Clemons the church purchased a lot adjacent to the present property on Mondawmin Avenue with the vision of building a new church. Reverend Clemons served Shiloh for 26 years, retiring in 2016. In 2016, God blessed our congregation with the appointment of Reverend Sandra Moore-Stanley to Shiloh. Then in April 2022 at the 206th Session of the Baltimore Annual Conference, God blessed our congregation with the appointment of Reverend Darryl Ford to Shiloh.

Shiloh stands as the “Friendly Church on the Hill; shining as Christ’s beacon of light for all." Our doors are open to promote an understanding of God and the depth of His love for humankind. We are pointing all to Jesus Christ, who is the God who truly loves and cares for us all. Moreover, our doors are open to give freedom and dignity to all. God continues to bless His work and His people at Shiloh African Methodist Episcopal Church and “it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know we are thriving to be like Him… ”

To God be the Glory!