LAAAGS Celebrates Lansing's 150 Years

TRINITY AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH Formerly GEORGE R. COLLINS MEMORIAL AME CHURCH 1866

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Lansing 150

LANSING'S FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCH GEORGE R. COLLINS MEMORIAL AME CHURCH 1866

Rev. Henderson, a minister of the British Methodist Church of Canada organized a congregation as “a society”…the Independent Methodist Episcopal Church in 1866, which is now known as Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church and formerly George R. Collins Memorial AME Church of Lansing, Michigan. During the post-Civil War years, the congregation held its meetings in the Freewill Baptist Church at Kalamazoo and Capitol Ave.  It was described as the first African American and integrated church in the Lansing Area.  It is stated that “the first church was in the vanguard of civilization. It was indeed among the pioneers in finding a haven of rest for the weary slaves long before the memorable edict of the assassinated President Lincoln.  It was responsible, more than once, for safe conduct of many who fled the south for freedom by way of the Underground Railroad”.  That location housed the congregation until they had raised $300, enough money to purchase a small frame building, which was placed on property at 109 N. Pine Street. The first Trustee Board was comprised of interracial members.   In 1877, construction was begun on the congregation’s brick and block building.  This structure was utilized by the congregation as a house of worship for eighty-eight (88) years.  During the tenure of Rev. George R. Collins, the original mortgage was paid, the first parsonage was erected and completed, the church building was remodeled and stained-glass windows were installed.  It was following these improvements and growth that the church was named the George R. Collins AME Church.  The development of the State of Michigan Capitol Complex necessitated the relocation of the church.  Subsequent to the sale of the treasured downtown location of the church, a 10 acre tract of land was purchased at the intersection of Holmes Road and Averill Drive, the site of the present structure.  On October 17, 1965, ground was broken and the cornerstone was laid for the current church edifice.   Of special note:  Mrs. Blanche Miller, organist, was the only member of the church to be present at the placing of the cornerstone of both church structures.  She also was organist for Collins Memorial AME when that cornerstone was laid in 1905 at 109 N. Pine Street.  Construction of the new church was completed within two (2) years, and the congregation held its first worship service in the new church in April, 1967.  The congregation elected to change the name of the new building to Trinity AME Church, a name with religious significance.  Prominent in the architectural design of Trinity AME are the twelve (12) gables—representing the twelve disciples.  The construction of a new parsonage was undertaken in June, 1978 and in May of 1979 Rev. Edgar L. Vann, Sr. and his family became the first residents of the new parsonage.     Resources: Lansing State Journal, October 1965, Trinity AME Church Archives, Researched by: Mary Jane McGuire, with assistance of Margaret Brown Photos: Courtesy Capital Area District Library

An Organization at GEORGE R. COLLINS MEMORIAL AME CHURCH 109 North Pine Street Lansing, Michigan