By Birgitta Wolfe, Managing Editor
BORDENTOWN CITY — At a time when people change jobs and towns and beliefs at the flick of a computer key, an embodiment of stability and endurance can be found at 36 E. Burlington St.
That’s the home of the Mount Zion AME Church that marks its 170th anniversary on Oct. 30.
It was in 1841 that the congregation officially formed the church at a one-story building on West Street. But actually, it started earlier than that when eight residents started an AME mission in 1817 and met in each other’s homes.
One of those founding residents was Joseph Green and today, two of his descendents, Hannah Green and her sister Althea, of Chestnut Street, are still members in good standing at Mount Zion AME, according to the Rev. Pearl Patillo, associate minister.
It is the third oldest church in the AME Camden-Trenton District, she said.
The 180-member congregation plans to celebrate its big anniversary with a banquet on Saturday, Oct. 15, at Kove Catering in Edgewater Park and with a special 11 a.m. worship service celebration on Oct. 23.
The congregation moved from West Street to the Clara Barton property in 1875 where it stayed until 1955 when the land was taken by eminent domain to expand the school. The existing church at East Brunswick Street was built in 1957.
The 62-year-old Rev. Patillo came to Mount Zion at the age of 4 and remembers not understanding why her Sunday School class had to move from the Clara Barton property.
”We have a warm fellowship one to another,” said 80-year-old Ralph Ware, a trustee, choir member and head steward.
Whenever there’s a need, there are volunteers to help out, whether it’s painting the building or tutoring children, he said.
”When you have a need, the Lord works through people,” he said.
Mr. Ware, a Fieldsboro resident, operates the Workingman’s Barbershop on Burlington Street where he has been since 1963.
He joined the church in 1978 and except for sick days, hasn’t missed a Sunday since.
Denise Daniels, wife of the church’s late minister, Jasper Daniels Jr., came to Mt. Zion in 1997 with her husband and “it didn’t take long to fit in. This is a caring, and loving family-oriented place. We can count on one another. It doesn’t have a revolving door.”
The Rev. Daniels Jr., who died in January, and the Men of Mount Zion started the church’s summer enrichment program for youngsters in 2007. This summer there were 35 graduates who studied music, academics, athletics and technology.
Mrs. Daniels said she hopes the church can eventually add on to its building to accommodate outreach programs. Its summer program is now held at the Clara Barton School.
The Rev. Joseph Robinson Jr. succeeded the Rev. Daniels Jr. in February and is “amazed at the historical significance of the church.”
”This is a vibrant congregation,” he said.
