Tiny Congregation Fights to Keep Its Church Open

The sounds of a sermon and hymns ring once again through Bakers Chapel, the tiny church that neither man nor nature could close.

Founded nearly a century ago by a former slave, Bakers Chapel has twice collapsed because of the elements and been rebuilt.

But last year, when the congregation dwindled to three members, the Piedmont Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church ordered the church closed.

The remaining members defied the order, renovated the deteriorating sanctuary, recruited about a dozen new members and declared themselves independent Baptists.

The denomination went to court, declaring that it owned the property, and got a judge to order the rebellious congregation to leave. But Oscar Klugh, presiding elder of the Piedmont Conference, said the conference also followed the judge’s suggestion that the issue be resolved through Christian love and without further litigation.

“If there are people that just insist that the church should remain open, or should remain active as a church, the conference decided it would assign someone there as pastor,” he said.

“They gave us our church back,” said member Hattie Cureton. “They’re not going to lock the doors and throw us in the street.”

The church property was once in a black farming community. Now the area is prime commercial real estate.

The denomination had the land surveyed but made no immediate plans to sell it. Conference trustees will study the matter and make a recommendation on the future use of the property, Klugh said.

An 1898 deed says the land must be used “forever” for a church and graveyard.

Member Minnie Lee Harris vowed to continue worshiping there to keep a deathbed promise she made to her uncle, a church founder.