St. Joseph CME Church 1947-1953

Before the construction of St. Joseph CME Church, congregants worshipped at Cotton Chapel CME Church. Cotton Chapel CME Church was named after Mr. Henry Cotton, a devoted member and leader in forming the congregation. Photo courtesy of Mrs. Patricia Jackson and St. Joseph CME Church.

While the land that St. Joseph CME Church sits on was originally allocated for Lincoln High School, the town made the decision that the site was too small to serve all of the Black high school students in Orange County. Trustees of St. Joseph worked together, some even mortgaging their homes, to…