Westminster Group Works to Save Local Historic Church

Last weekend, a group of Westminster College community members traveled 20 minutes south of Fulton to Tebbetts, Missouri to help save the historic African American United Methodist Church.

“We spent the day clearing brush around the graveyard and excavating old gravestones that had been discarded around the property,” said Dr. Mark Boulton. ” The AME Church has performed a vital role as a center of the black community in Tebbetts since its founding in 1878.  Many of the graves date back to the nineteenth century, the oldest belonging to ‘Hannah’ who was born in 1823.  The church was recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places, but unfortunately has suffered some major structural damage.  Mrs. Doris Handy is one of the few congregants left, but both she and the Tebbetts community are determined to preserve both thae building and its history.”

Brett Houska clears brush outside the church.