In 1912, the first African Methodist Episcopal Church of Bremerton was established; in the late 1930s, it was named Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church. According to the church’s file books, the first handwritten history was written about 1935. This account indicates that A. J. Spears was the founder; it also states that in 1912, Reverend G. W. Kinchion was sent to Bremerton by the Annual Puget Sound Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church to establish a church in the city of Bremerton.
On August 19, 1912, Reverend Kinchion called a meeting of the citizens of Bremerton together in City Hall to organize the First African Methodist Episcopal Church with the following names listed: A. J. Spears; Mrs. A. J. Spears; G. W. Farmer; Mrs. G. W. Kinchion; E. P. Davis; Jerry Anderson; and W. H. Spencer. On the same date, the Sunday School was established with the following officers: A. J. Spears, Superintendent; W. H. Spencer, Secretary; and Mrs. A. J. Spears, Treasurer.
The second handwritten history, had thirteen (13) pages of a history that was written in the 1940s, indicating that in “June 1912, three men gathered in a shoe repair shop: a resident of Bremerton, Mr. George Farmer; a shoemaker and resident, Mr. Jerry Anderson; resident E. P. Davis; and the Reverend G. W. Kinchion.” These men were inspired by the word of God to organize a church, and were responsible for building the first church to worship in the city. The church was erected on 7th Street and McKenzie Avenue. The Reverend Kinchion, who had knowledge of carpentry, built the church, and brothers George Farmer and E. P. Davis assisted.
The third handwritten history states that: the first African Methodist Episcopal Church, known as Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church was started in a tent on 7th Street near Pacific, in the City of Bremerton, Washington. George W. Farmer, a resident, Jerry Anderson, a shoemaker, and W. P. Davis, a dry-dock worker, gave Reverend G. T. Kinchion $20 to buy the tent.
Any apparent inconsistency in the three historical accounts above might be due to an unintentional omission of facts from the timeline.
The Reverend Kinchion became pastor in charge until the Annual Conference in 1913. Reverend Kinchion was from Missoula, Montana. His name was also listed in an A.M.E. pamphlet as being from Roslyn Washington. Another record indicated that Reverend Kinchion was a Methodist preacher coming from Tacoma, Washington. In any case, the Reverend Kinchion served as pastor of the First A.M.E. Church of Bremerton for one year, 1912-1913, and was instrumental in building the first church.
On August 19, 1912, Reverend Kinchion called a meeting of the citizens of Bremerton together in City Hall to organize the First African Methodist Episcopal Church with the following names listed: A. J. Spears; Mrs. A. J. Spears; G. W. Farmer; Mrs. G. W. Kinchion; E. P. Davis; Jerry Anderson; and W. H. Spencer. On the same date, the Sunday School was established with the following officers: A. J. Spears, Superintendent; W. H. Spencer, Secretary; and Mrs. A. J. Spears, Treasurer.
The second handwritten history, had thirteen (13) pages of a history that was written in the 1940s, indicating that in “June 1912, three men gathered in a shoe repair shop: a resident of Bremerton, Mr. George Farmer; a shoemaker and resident, Mr. Jerry Anderson; resident E. P. Davis; and the Reverend G. W. Kinchion.” These men were inspired by the word of God to organize a church, and were responsible for building the first church to worship in the city. The church was erected on 7th Street and McKenzie Avenue. The Reverend Kinchion, who had knowledge of carpentry, built the church, and brothers George Farmer and E. P. Davis assisted.
The third handwritten history states that: the first African Methodist Episcopal Church, known as Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church was started in a tent on 7th Street near Pacific, in the City of Bremerton, Washington. George W. Farmer, a resident, Jerry Anderson, a shoemaker, and W. P. Davis, a dry-dock worker, gave Reverend G. T. Kinchion $20 to buy the tent.
Any apparent inconsistency in the three historical accounts above might be due to an unintentional omission of facts from the timeline.
The Reverend Kinchion became pastor in charge until the Annual Conference in 1913. Reverend Kinchion was from Missoula, Montana. His name was also listed in an A.M.E. pamphlet as being from Roslyn Washington. Another record indicated that Reverend Kinchion was a Methodist preacher coming from Tacoma, Washington. In any case, the Reverend Kinchion served as pastor of the First A.M.E. Church of Bremerton for one year, 1912-1913, and was instrumental in building the first church.