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Rockwell A.M.E.Zion Church History
Throughout its history, Rockwell has served as the focal point for reaching the masses of people. Whether the issue is social, political, economic or race, the pulpit has always been the means of support and source of strength for the people. Our forefathers knew a church was necessary to reach and draw people closer together. So, they laid the foundation in the Derita Community many years ago. Rockwell African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church had its beginnings as many of the other Black churches. Records indicate that prior to 1865, Blacks in the community worshiped with Whites at the Sugar Creek Presbyterian Church. There are no records to indicate how Rockwell became affiliated with the A.M.E. Zion Church. However, it is believed that the Rev. E. H. Hill and Bishop I.C. Clinton of the A.M.E. Zion Church were aware of the intentions of several Black to sever their relations with the Sugaw Creek Church. |
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The records of Sugaw Creek Presbyterian Church read as follows: During the years 1863-1866, the roll of the church was not kept very accurately, but in 1867, the minutes of the Session for August 22, 1867, read as follows: There are 170 white members of the church. In view of the establishment of a church, colored people are within us bounds and the apparent determination, but it is not deemed proper to enumerate them summing up the membership. The movement for the establishment of a separate church began in 1865.
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On October 7, 1865, about six months after General Lee's surrender at Appomattox, the session made this entry: Cubic Moore, Jefferson Parks and Derrick Moor, prominent and influential colored communicants in this church, appeared before Session at the request of the pastor to confer with the Session touching their church relations- it appearing to the intention of the two first named to connection themselves with the northern branch of the Methodist Episcopal Church. After a protracted interview, in which it was the earnest desire of Session to demonstrate to the misguided, deluded, and hitherto unexceptional colored communicates that if they still felt a sincere interest in their welfare, spiritual and temporal, it was determined that Messrs. Henderson Query and J.M. Hutchinson be appointed a committee to state to such colored communicants as were not disposed to change their church relations (that their white friends would assist them in determination to sever their connection with this church, it would be better for them to do so by certificate from the Sessions. Therefore, per the records, Rockwell A.M.E. Zion Church, as it is presently known, was established some time before 1865.
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