About Magnolia CME Church
Our Vision
We are a small group of ordinary believers striving to grow our church for an Extraordinary Big GOD!
Our Mission
To Show God’s Love, To Share God’s Love and To Speak God’s Love through the knowledge of One God, One Faith and Great Works in our community and beyond
Church History
Magnolia CME Church had its beginning shortly after the Colored Methodist Church was organized. From 1854 – 1874, many of its first members were worshippers in the White Methodist Church. The church was organized through the efforts of Reverend David Sweetwine, affectionately called “Father Sweetwine”, who traveled to the Islands. There were visits made by other Black denominations trying to persuade many to join their churches.
However, in 1874, Father Sweetwine organized the Magnolia CME Church which was then called “The Ole Church”. Some of the first members were: Ella and Anic Pinkney, Raymond and Rachel Demery, Walter Myers Family, Joseph Lamar, Daisy Massey, Dave and Miriah Massey, Rose and Emma Flanders, and Analiza and Mundy Massey.
A wooden church was built, and it remained for years until it became too expensive to continue to repair. In 1952 under the leadership of Rev. Barton and the faithful members, a new block church was built and furnished. Magnolia’s history would not be complete without the names of Josephine and H. Demery, James and Minder Demery, Sr., Mary Ella Massey, Clara Flanders, Sarah Blue, Maude Brunswick, Thurlo and Rosa Lee Lang, Vernethia Willis, Thelma Duncan, and James Demery, Jr.
From the 1960s to present time, the following preachers have pastored the church: Reverends Sample, Mayfield, Williams, Colson, Wells, Fletcher, Pettigrew, Miller, Whitfield, Tresvant, Stafford, Calhoun, Robinson, Sams, Osborne, and presently, Rev. Johnnie Mae Law.