Grace A.M.E. Church, Buffalo

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State University of New York at Buffalo

Student Union Chapel 

Grace Community A.M.E. Church was founded around the year 2000 by Rev. Pedro Castro at the State University of New York at Buffalo, gathering in the Student Union Chapel.

That same year, the congregation was received into the Western New York Annual Conference. Early leadership included Trustee Greg Merrill and Karen Stubblefield, who served as Director of the Board of Christian Education.

From its beginning, Grace Community represented an effort to establish an A.M.E. presence within a university setting—meeting students and community members in a space shaped by learning, transition, and formation.

Rev. Pedro Castro served as the founding pastor, guiding the congregation through its initial formation and conference integration.

Following his appointment to pastor a church in Bermuda, Rev. Robin Franklin succeeded him and continued the work of the ministry during its remaining years.

Grace Community A.M.E. Church closed its doors in December 2006.

Though its time was brief, its presence on the campus of SUNY Buffalo reflected a commitment to meeting people where they were—offering worship, community, and connection within an academic environment.