Walters Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church 12 Gregory Street , Bridgeport, CT 06604

Original Structure Current Structure Before Super Storm Sandy

Walters Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church was founded in 1835 and has been located at this site since 1882. When its original structure was destroyed by fire in 1951, the current building was erected. This is the second oldest in Bridgeport and was named after Bishop Alexander Walters, the 24th Bishop in the line of succession of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. He was a formidable civil rights advocate in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, his influence extending into the Bridgeport Community and with this church family. On August 28, 2011 the church building sustained a massive hit from Hurricane Irene. The finished basement was flooded, destroying the Children’s Church area, a kitchen and two bathrooms, as well as everything in storage. After a year of renovations, we were hit again. Fourteen months later Super Storm Sandy, one of the largest storms to hit the Northeast in recorded history, left a devastating effect on this church! The lower basement took on eight feet of water which destroyed the furnaces and all the electrical installations and renovation work that had recently been done. An engineering team brought in to conduct an inspection has determined that both the interior and exterior structure of the building is unstable and would cost more to repair than to demolish and rebuild. Therefore, through much prayer, by faith, and operating with Godly wisdom the Walters family has embarked on a Vision campaign to build a new edifice to the glory of God, on a new foundation properly designed to withstand similar weather conditions. “For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry long.” Habakkuk 2:3

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Walters Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church

Walters Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church 12 Gregory Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604

Around 1831, the area that would become the settlement called “Little ” was owned by 12 Gregory Street, Bridgeport, CT an abolitionist named Samuel Whiting. “Little Liberia” located on Long Island Sound in the south end of Bridgeport was a natural drop off point for runaways and for free Blacks looking for a place to settle. Samuel Whiting sold lots to the blacks, two of the lots were used to build the North African Episcopal Church and the South African Episcopal Church. Today, both of these congregations have evolved into Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church and Walters Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, respectively. In 1835 Walters’ Church was organized.

In 1858, Reverend Gable Rice, who was pastor, purchased twin houses on Liberty Street. He had them moved to Broad and Gregory Streets, where one was used as a parsonage and the other served as a place of worship until the present structure was erected in 1882 during the pastorate of Reverend Haines. The church was later dedicated and named Walters Memorial AME Zion Church after Bishop Alexander Walters; a civil rights advocate and leader and a former pastor of the church

Walters Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church 12 Gregory Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604 On August 28, 2011 the church sustained a hit from Hurricane Irene. The church’s finished basement was flooded, destroying the Children’s Church Established in 1835 in the area known as Little Liberia, this church area, a kitchen and two bathrooms, as well as everything in storage. After a year of renovations, we were hit again. Super Storm Sandy left a was once a safe haven for runaway slaves and is now officially a part devastating effect on our church! The lower basement took on eight (8) feet of the “Connecticut Freedom Trail” as well as a historical site in of water which destroyed the furnaces, and all the electrical installations as Bridgeport. well as the entire renovation work that was done after Hurricane Irene. Structurally, we are not even sure that the foundation is sound, the roof is leaking, many of the shingles were dislodged, the bricks for chimney are Around 1831, the area that would become the settlement called “Little Current Structure of Walters falling off; thus we have not been able to conduct church services in the Memorial AME Zion Church before Liberia” was owned by an abolitionist named Samuel Whiting. building for the past six years. Located on Long Island Sound in the south end of Bridgeport, this was a Super Storm Sandy natural drop off point for runaways and free Blacks looking for a place Walters African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church to settle. has been located at this site since 1882. When its original structure was destroyed by fire in 1951, the current Little Liberia’s growth began to take off with the construction of Walters building was erected on the surviving foundation. The church is one of few remaining Memorial. A three-story hotel called “Duncan House” and the reminders of an earlier African American community known as "Little Liberia." Made Stratified Special School for Colored Children were built in this up of free blacks, migrants from the South, former slaves and their descendants, this tight-knit neighborhood. community supported two churches, a school, a hotel, and a number of individual homes. The Mary and Eliza Freeman houses nearby on Main The ministers who served early in the history of Walters were abolitionists. Street are the only two remaining homes From the pulpit they rallied for Jesus while fighting racism and oppression. 12 Gregory Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604

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Sponsored by Walter’s Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, Bridgeport, CT