ABOUT ST. JOHN AME ZION CHURCH
HISTORY
St. John AME Zion Church, known initially as Fork African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, was organized on March 19, 1869, in what was then Wilsontown, but is now Odenton, Maryland. Here is our story…
Nestled in a rural, wooded area in Western Anne Arundel County, Maryland, between the Big Patuxent and the Little Patuxent Rivers existed a Quaker settlement. It was here that Quakers owned the land and established a meeting house and community in the 1790s. The land had been inhabited by Quakers and freed slaves. It is noted that the Quakers in this area freed their slaves in 1792. By the mid-1800s, the Quakers found it difficult to farm in this agrarian marshland settlement and migrated to larger cities in search of employment. The Quakers donated their stone building (Indian Springs Meeting House) and land to the residents (freed slaves). Three African American brothers (Isaiah, John, and Dennis Wilson) acquired 77 acres of land from the Quakers and named their property Wilsontown. Wilsontown was located between the Fort Meade Army base and the Baltimore and Pennsylvania Railroad tracks. The railroad began construction in 1867, during the beginning of the Reconstruction era, and service commenced in 1872.
AFTER THE CIVIL WAR
After the Civil War, the residents (freed slaves) organized the Fork African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, which was established in 1869, and they took ownership of the meeting house in 1872. Fork AME Zion's name reflected its geographic location between the Great Fork of the Patuxent and Little Patuxent rivers. In 1888, Quaker Rachel Tyson deeded the 77 acres to the Wilson brothers. On April 16, 1891, the Quakers sold the building and 2 acres of land to the Trustees of Fork AME Zion church, Nathan Allen, John Fleets, Charles Matthews, Amos Bowie, and Richard Toogood. Fork AME Zion Church not only had worship services in this building but also schooling. Service was held in that building until a frame building was built on May 31, 1908, under the direction of the Reverend I. T. Conquest, pastor-in-charge. Fork AME Zion church had a cemetery behind the building, which is now known as Hopkin’s Cemetery.
The areas of Wilsontown, northwest of the railroad were acquired by the U.S. Government to expand Fort Meade during World War II. Due to eminent domain, the church and its people had to relinquish the land. In February 1942, the money received from the sale of the land was used to purchase land ½ mile east of the original location, across the East Side of the tracks, with a cemetery located behind the church, where it currently sits. The church was erected and dedicated on May 5, 1942, under the leadership of the Reverend J. J. Howard, who was the pastor-in-charge until 1946.
FORK AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH
In 1967, Fork African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was renamed St. John African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church under the leadership of Reverend French Myers (pastor-in-charge). On October 11, 1980, remodeling work began. Vandalism took a toll on the remodeling efforts but with the help of God and many hours of prayer, we were victorious and able to record the completion date of June 11, 1983. The edifice was rededicated on May 20, 1984, under the leadership of Reverend Cyril O. Eastman (pastor-in-charge).
Since that glorious spring day in May 1984, St. John AME Zion Church has risen in the face of adversity to stand tall and firmly rooted on the biblical foundation from whence it came. The historical richness like Fredrick Douglass, the abolitionist, teaching Sunday School at Fork AME Zion Church and its believed role on the Underground Railroad lend itself to the integrity of this vital branch of Zion. St. John AME Zion Church was and continues to be the center of the community. Over 35 Pastors have served St. John AME Zion Church. In 2023, the church had its first female pastor appointed, Rev. Sybil Olivia Felton. The church has grown significantly in the past 3 years and continues to grow. Currently, there are legacy families that remain at St. John since the late 1800’s and the legacy continues…
In 1991, the original property was transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and today is part of the Patuxent Research Refuge. Some of the original property deeded to the Wilson brothers are within the borders of the refuge, including the site of Isaiah's home and the original location of the Quaker meeting house which became Fork African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.