First AMEC, Lockport

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In recent years, there has been a friendly and spirited effort among local churches to establish their place in the historical life of the community. Yet, in those conversations, few have paused to consider the enduring witness of the small A.M.E. Church on South Street.

And still, it has remained—quietly faithful, persistently present, and deeply rooted in the religious life of Lockport.

In 1835, a meeting was held to establish a school for Negro children. It was resolved that $150 be raised to construct a building to serve both as a schoolhouse and a place of worship. From this shared commitment to education and faith, a congregation emerged.

By 1840, the church was formally organized as Zion Methodist Episcopal Church of Lockport, located on Lot 18 on South Street. Though its resources were limited, its purpose was clear, and its service to both members and the broader community began immediately.

Among the early contributors was Mr. Earon Mossell, who operated a brick yard in Lockport and provided bricks for the construction of the church. His labor, alongside that of many others, helped raise a structure that would serve generations.

Yet it was the women of First A.M.E. Church whose devotion sustained the church in its most difficult seasons. With limited financial means but unwavering determination, they worked tirelessly—caring for their families by day and cleaning, cooking, and fundraising for the church by night.

One woman’s words capture the urgency of their commitment:

“I can’t sleep at night for worrying about the church… On Sunday morning the congregation has to raise umbrellas to keep from getting wet.”

Even in the face of disrepair, leaking roofs, and financial hardship, they refused to let the doors of the church close.

At a critical moment, the City Missionary Federation, under the leadership of Mrs. George Sewnzy, learned of the church’s condition. Responding with compassion and urgency, they joined with the congregation to raise funds for renovation.

The record notes that the response was “immediate and generous,” and with collective effort, sufficient funds were secured to restore the church edifice.

This partnership did not create the church’s faith—it met a faith that had already endured.

Across more than 170 years of history, numerous pastors have served First A.M.E. Church, each contributing to its spiritual life and community presence.

Among them are:

• Rev. Henry C. Thomson (1857) 
• Rev. J. H. Turpin (1868–1869) 
• Rev. C. C. Green (1871) 
• Rev. Charles W. Mossell (1871) 
• Rev. Benjamin Franklin (1876) 
• Rev. M. P. Cole (1878–1879) 
• Rev. W. F. Tow (1880) 
• Rev. Joseph D. Ray (1919) 
• Rev. Dr. S. B. Chappell (1953) 
• Rev. Lascelle M. Watts (1957) 
• Rev. James L. Beach (1959) 
• Rev. Dr. Henry I. Lewis (1961) 
• Rev. Samuel J. King (1981) 
• Rev. Pedro Castro (1982) 
• Rev. Gerald H. Hesson (1990) 
• Rev. Louis Attles 
• Along with Rev. Clark, Rev. Chappell, Rev. Baker, Rev. H. Phenix, Rev. Hooper, Rev. Langford, Rev. Hall, Rev. Guann, Rev. Jones, Rev. Mouchette, Rev. Hudson, Rev. Cavers, Rev. Gumms, Rev. Pitts, and Rev. Fields 

Each, in their season, helped carry the church forward.

In a report to the Annual Conference, Rev. Louis Attles documented a series of significant improvements, including the installation of new safety doors, remodeling of the balcony, creation of a pastor’s study, preparation for a future computer lab and communication center, replacement of windows, and renovation of the fellowship hall.

He also acknowledged the generosity of St. Paul’s A.M.E. Church in Cambridge for donating an organ and Bethel A.M.E. Church in Buffalo for providing a van.

In October 2005, Rev. Dolores Wynn was appointed pastor of First A.M.E. Church in Lockport, New York.

In November 2006, the church marked more than 170 years of continuous witness—a legacy rooted not in abundance, but in endurance.

First African Methodist Episcopal Church stands today as a testimony to what faithful stewardship can sustain. Built through sacrifice, preserved through hardship, and strengthened through generations of committed believers, it remains a living witness to the truth declared long ago:

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.”