Fundraising efforts underway to repair historic African American church in Santa Barbara
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - A community fundraising effort continues to help repair and restore the St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Santa Barbara, a landmark building in the city and religious community.
The urgent need has been a roof project and interior dome work. Due to the weather damage three years ago the church has not been able to open for in person worship and fellowship.
The church was built in the early 1900's.  It is on the corner of Haley St. at Olive St. on the lower eastside of downtown.
There are six AME churches in the city and St. Paul is the oldest.
The church is a leader in supporting African American culture and spirituality in Santa Barbara and educating the community at large.
In 2020 the church was designated a Santa Barbara City Historic Landmark in recognition of its architectural distinction an significant cultural history.
The church is seeking community fundraising through a continued donation drive. Currently the church needs about $46,000 in donations for making the interior safe.
A roofing project was just completed. That went a long way to help the church in its comeback.
"We want to make it safe. We take care of this, this and smooth it over with some paint and then we can have service," said AME church pastor Rev. Elbert Sherrod.
The need to keep the landmark open is apparent and its service to the community is vital.
Church Trustee Wendy Sims-Moten said, "we don't want this to be an historical landmark that is not being used in the community. We want you come in and fellowship and sit and just time to have fellowship and be refueled and renewed, all in the same time and place and space."
There's hope the funding and work can come together in the next two months. Sherrod said, "we want to get in. That's how we can share with the community this historic landmark. "
One large donor could step up, but the church says the repair project with many people contributing will be the community unity it strives for going forward.
"We wouldn't have the community ties that we built in this. It's going to strengthen us to to help others,"said Sherrod.
For so many people who have been disconnect, Trustee Julie Carlson said the church will help them including some who were once connected by now feel isolated. "We feel the loss of that ourselves personally but (this) also bring up this space for people feeling like that."
Carlson is a longtime organist for the choir and congregation.
Information from the church website shows the progress to date following the roof replacement:
Phase 2 Revitalization (supported by ongoing fundraising) The second phase is motivated by two goals. One is to stabilize and renovate other portions of this historic building (renovating the fellowship hall and upstairs meeting rooms to increase accessibility) so that we not only can resume our worship and fellowship activities but also expand them and grow our congregation. The second is to resume St. Paul’s reputation as a beacon for justice by expanding our mission and service to the surrounding community, focusing on our youth and seniors. We will continue to conduct historical tours for students, politicians, and visitors in the area while at the same time renewing our cultural contributions to the regional community.
Donations can be made by check to St. Paul AME Church, 502 Olive Street, Santa Barbara 93101 or online via the Givelify APP using: St Paul AME Church Santa Barbara. Click here to go to Givelify.
"We are under the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church Denomination Group Exemption Number 2632, 00-53-0204696, 501C (3), and a California Non-Profit Corporation Entity No. 0046107," wrote St Paul AME Capital Campaign Committee, Pastor, Elbert Sherrod Trustees, Julie Carlson, and Wendy Sims-Moten.
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