St. Paul AME Church celebrates 150 years with new project

St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church has come a long way in 150 years.

In the beginning, the church consisted of 10 African-American families worshipping together under a grapevine at the corner of Franklin Street and Merritt Mill Road.

This year, the church will break ground on 48,000 square foot housing development and a surrounding village.

The Rev. Thomas O. Nixon of St. Paul said the town of Chapel Hill pitched the idea to the church and has been reviewing the development through its extensive approval process ever since.

This project is not about St. Paul, he said. It is meant to bring the masses together for a common cause.

St. Paul has been providing money for the consultants, architects and any tests and studies that have been a part of getting the village approved.

There are a couple more hurdles to cross before the project is fully approved, he said. Then we will be looking for help through grants and partnerships.

Three phases of development

The construction of St. Paul Village will take about 10 years once it is fully approved.

The village will be built in three phases. The first phase will provide a 600-seat Fellowship Hall, an administration building, a day care center, a gymnasium, a sales office, memorial gardens and 36 independent living apartments.

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St. Paul AME Church celebrates 150 years with new project