June 2023-Current
Rev. Marlo D. Woods, Master of Divinity, appointed pastor of Greater Mt. Olive, by Bishop McAllister and Presiding Elder Sturdivant. Rev. Woods brings fresh winds of ideas, fresh courage to assume the helm of Greater Mt. Olive; fresh fires of confidence from the Holy Spirit to lead God’s people to higher heights and deeper depths.
1825 - Greater Mount Olive African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, originally named Murry Chapel, was founded in a private home at Sixth and Hirst Streets, Philadelphia, PA, under the leadership of Bishop Richard Allen, founder and first bishop of the AME Church. 1885 - Land was purchased by the AME Wesleyan Church, also known as Murry Chapel. 1889 - The name on the deed was changed to Mount Olive African Methodist Episcopal Church, under the pastorate of Rev. John M. Palmer. 1898 - The church was incorporated and moved to Clifton and South Streets, Philadelphia, PA, under the pastorate of Rev. F. T. M. Webster. 1949 May – Rev. Richard R. Stokes appointed pastor, under the leadership of Bishop Decatur Ward Nichols.
1950 - The congregation paraded from Clifton and South Streets, and relocated to the newly purchased edifice on the Northeast corner of Nineteenth and Fitzwater Streets, Philadelphia, PA. The name was changed to Greater Mount Olive African Methodist Episcopal Church. The former church building at Clifton and South Streets was closed for three months and reopened under Presiding Elder Kelsey Keys with a new congregation, and was named Waters Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church, in memory of a former pastor, Rev. Hudson Waters. 1951 - Greater Mount Olive entertained the 135th Session of the Philadelphia Annual Conference under the leadership of Bishop Decatur Ward Nichols and Pastor Richard R. Stokes. 1955 - Greater Mount Olive entertained the 139th Session of the Philadelphia Annual Conference, under the leadership of Bishop Nichols. Hosted the historic combined Sessions of the Philadelphia and Delaware Annual Conferences, under the leadership of Bishop George Wilber Baber. 1964 - Rev. Richard R. Stokes transferred from Greater Mount Olive and the Philadelphia Conference to St. Luke AME Church, New York City, New York Conference, under the leadership of Bishop John D. Bright. Rev. Samuel C. Thornton, from the 13th Episcopal District, appointed pastor of Greater Mount Olive AME Church.
Devastation and New Beginnings. 1966 Mid-November - On a chilly Sunday morning circa 3:15 a.m., a disastrous fire destroyed the Greater Mount Olive AME Church building; with only the four walls remaining and an outstanding mortgage.
1967 January to November - worshipped in the basement of Saint Charles Roman Catholic (RC) Church, 20th & Christian Streets, Philadelphia, PA, Father John George, Pastor. Due to internal dissension and unresolved differences, a substantial portion of the membership left the congregation and formed a new church; Resurrection Community Methodist Church, located at 38th and Baring Streets, Philadelphia, PA, where a former Greater Mount Olive AME Church’s son, the Rev. Earl Williams served as pastor for more than 20 years. Rev. Thornton appointed Presiding Elder and assigned to the New Jersey Conference. Rev. O’Neil Mackey, Jr., from the New York Conference, assigned Pastor of Greater Mount Olive AME Church by Bishop John D. Bright. 1968 - Greater Mount Olive AME Church moved its worship services from the basement of Saint Charles RC Church to the second floor of Ruffin Nichols AME Church, located at 12th and Mount Vernon Streets, Philadelphia, PA. While at Ruffin Nichols, Greater Mt. Olive’s congregation stabilized and grew. Meanwhile, Greater Mount Olive’s edifice was being rebuilt, rising out of the ashes and ruins of the fire. November – Greater Mount Olive’s congregation returned to 19th & Fitzwater Streets to a new building, new obligations, a new mortgage, and the need to heal and rebuild a splintered congregation.
1969- January – Rededication Service by Bishop John D. Bright, and Rev. Mackey, Pastor. 1971 - Greater Mount Olive AME Church entertained the 1st Episcopal District’s Fall Convocation.1973- November – Rev. Mackey transferred to Mount Zion AME Church, New York City. November - Rev. Jesse J. Jackson, Sr., appointed pastor of Greater Mount Olive AME Church.1978- May - Greater Mount Olive AME Church entertained the One-Hundred and Sixty Second Session of the Philadelphia Annual Conference, under the leadership of Bishop Richard Allen Hilderbrand.
Rev Roland C. McCall, a son of Greater Mount Olive AME Church, nurtured from boyhood, was sent into the pastorate by Bishop Hilderbrand on the Sunday of his graduation from the seminary with a Master of Divinity Degree, to Bethel AME Church, White Plains, NY. June – Rev. Jackson was reassigned to Israel Memorial AME Church, Newark, NJ. Rev. Luther F. McNair appointed pastor of Greater Mount Olive AME Church. Christian Education revival.
1981- May – Rev. Isaac N. Patterson, IV, appointed pastor of Greater Mount Olive AME Church. Sunday School awakening. May - Rev. Alexander Stephans assigned pastor of Greater Mount Olive AME Church. Financial recovery, sanctuary carpeted, mortgage liquidated. Mortgage Burning Service, under the leadership of Bishop Frank. C. Cummings and Presiding Elder Herman A. Rhodes. 1994 November – Rev. Nathaniel L. Williams appointed pastor of Greater Mount Olive AME Church, under the leadership of Bishop Phillip R. Cousin and Presiding Elder Rhodes. Van purchased, computer installed, lower auditorium painted, carpet laid on stage.1997 May – Rev. Pleasant L. Hailey assigned pastor of Greater Mount Olive AME Church, under the leadership of Bishop Zedekiah L. Grady and Presiding Elder Rhodes. Spiritual revival, membership growth, new organ purchased, office equipped with latest technology.
2004 June – Rev. James E. Jenerette appointed pastor of Greater Mount Olive AME Church, under the leadership of Bishop Zedekiah L. Grady and Presiding Elder Rhodes. Air conditions installed in sanctuary, roof replaced, and new stove purchased for kitchen. Revived music ministry, membership growth, spiritual growth, fund-raising, and financial recovery. Church named Hospitality Center of the South District, Rev. Jenerette appointed Hospitality Officer. 2006 October – Rev. Earl R. Jefferson, Sr., assigned interim pastor of Greater Mount Olive, under the leadership of Bishop Richard F. Norris, and Presiding Elder Charles H. Lett, Sr. Spiritual and administrative leadership, and godly counsel to sustain and stabilize a shaken and divided congregation. 2007 January – Rev. Larry Thompson, Sr., assigned pastor of Greater Mount Olive, under the leadership of Bishop Norris and Presiding Elder Lett. The work of stabilizing the congregation continued. New equipment installed in men’s and women’s restrooms, Pastor’s Study and Conference area painted and refurbished, gift of glass doors installed to front entrance; gift of stair lift installed. Revived Children’s Ministry; active YPD and Youth Choir; increased participation in Church School and Christian Education. 2010 October - Entertained the South District Conference, under the leadership of Presiding Elder Reverend James E. F. Lawrence. 2011 October – a mix of dwindling membership, gentrification and the changing community demographics; the Board of Trustees and the Church Conference voted to sell the church building and relocate the church elsewhere.
2012 March – The building at Nineteenth and Fitzwater Streets sold. March through August – The congregation worshipped at Metropolitan AME Church, Lansdowne, PA, Rev. Clarence Martin, Sr., Pastor. September through December – The congregation worshipped at a venue located at Fifty-Fourth and Diamond Streets, Philadelphia, PA. Mrs. Doris A. Shaw received Greater Mount Olive’s first Life Membership of the Women’s Missionary Society.
2013 January through June – Greater Mount Olive’s congregation continued worship service at the Fifty-Fourth and Diamond Streets location. June – Under the leadership of the Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram, Presiding Elder Lawrence, Pastor, Rev. Thompson and the Board of trustees purchased and settled on a building located at 439 North 50th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19139. July – Congregation moved into the North 50th Street location. Held worship service in lower facilities. Renovation and refurbishing to building’s exterior and sanctuary commenced.
2014 May – Mrs. Rosa Lee Johnson consecrated first Deaconess of Greater Mt. Olive AME Church at the 198th Session of the Philadelphia Annual Conference by Bishop Ingram. June – Greater Mount Olive’s name unveiled on outdoor sign. July - Service of Dedication led by Bishop Ingram, Rev. Dr. Janet J. Sturdivant, Presiding Elder of the South District of the Philadelphia Annual Conference, and Pastor, Rev. Thompson. The harvest is plentiful.
August – Rev. Juanita J. Hall-Walters, Master of Divinity, appointed first female pastor in the history of the Greater Mount Olive AME Church; under the leadership of Bishop Ingram and Presiding Elder Sturdivant. Work of rebuilding and reorganizing began. Spiritual renewal; increased membership and fund-raising; restructured music ministry; Mass Choir formed. Trained officers for leadership roles in Love Feast meditations, Bible Study, and worship service.
August – Rev. Juanita J. Hall-Walters, Master of Divinity, appointed first female pastor in the history of the Greater Mount Olive AME Church; under the leadership of Bishop Ingram and Presiding Elder Sturdivant. Work of rebuilding and reorganizing began. Spiritual renewal; increased membership and fund-raising; restructured music ministry; Mass Choir formed. Trained officers for leadership roles in Love Feast meditations, Bible Study, and worship service
2016 October – Entertained the South District Conference. Pastoral restroom installed. 2017 January – Selected Church of the Week by the Philadelphia Tribune. March – Celebrated the church’s 192nd Church Anniversary. Unforeseen challenges; spiritual and otherwise. 2020 From March 2020 until her retirement, Rev Walters navigated the challenges of pastoring a congregation during the Covid-19 Pandemic. 2023 May - Rev. Walters retired from active ministry at the seat of the 207th Session of the Philadelphia Annual Conference, under the leadership and direction of Bishop Julius H. McAllister, Sr., and Presiding Elder Sturdivant.
All Glory to God!
We’ve come this far by faith!