History

The Wayman Church was organized in the First Presbyterian Church in the Spring of 1865 by the Rev. Dudley Asbury, a member of the Ohio Conference.

After a few services in the First Presbyterian Church, services were held in the Jury Room of the old Court House. Later services were held at Wickham's Auction House and the Market Hall. A lot was purchased at 926 Market Street, by the Rev. Dudley Asbury.

Rev. C. T. Prosser was assigned to the church and under his leadership, the church was erected on Market Street by Mr. George Crumbacher. The church was dedicated by the seventh (7th) Bishop of the A.M.E. Church, Bishop Alexander W. Wayman in 1882.

Early in 1900, the church was struck by a terrible blow when the building was condemned, and the congregation was forced to return to the Market Street Hall. Services were held at the Market Street Hall, until Rev. Smothers was assigned to the church and made arrangements with Rev. S.G. Coleman, pastor of Ebenezar Baptist Church to hold services there. Every Sunday afternoon the members of Wayman were able to hold services until another building was built.

Through the faithful work of Rev. Smothers and the members, the church was re-built in the Fall of 1907 at the original place at 926 Market Street.

Wayman enjoyed many years in the Market Street Church, but in May of 1963, the membership was forced to move in order to make way for the West Virginia State Road Commission to construct the I-70 Wheeling Hill Twin Tunnell Interchange project. This time, the services were held at the Y.W.C.A. Building at 1100 Chapline Street.

At this time, the Rev. Mason Deverreaux, Jr., was the pastor. He and the members worked diligently and were finally able to move into the new church in May of 1964, located at 1136 Eoff Street, where we are worshipping today.

The greatest thing about Wayman A.M.E. Church is that it has come a long way, by leaning and depending on the Lord. Many people have come and gone throughout the years, but the one thing that can be said, is that "God promised never to leave us nor forsake us", and He has kept His word. With this in mind, we can look to the future with faith and continue to say, "We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us."

Ministers Who Have Served

1926-Present

Name

Start

End

Rev. E.A. Moore

June 1926

September 1930

Rev. A.J. Smoot

September 1930

January 1931

Rev. C. H. Harden

Rev. O. A. Burke

Rev. Charles
Rev. John A. Deveaux Rev. B. J. Nolan
Rev. S. A. Amos
Rev. Joran
Rev. B. Ross
Rev. J. Irvan
Rev. A. D. Tyson
Rev. J. H. Harris

Rev. McBee
Rev. J. A. Whitfield, P. Elder
Rev. B. J. Highsmith
Rev. M.Deverreaux, Jr.
Rev. B. Burgess
Rev. L. Grady
Rev. D. Madison
Rev. John K. Frazier
Rev. A. H. Ballad, Jr.
Rev. Joe Jordan
Rev. John E. Stephens
Rev. Eugene Schoolfield
Rev. Alfred T. Casson, P. Elder
Rev. Charles R. Simpson Rev. Yolanda Wright

Rev. Charles Lockett
Rev. John E. Stephens -2nd appt.

Rev. Brandon A.A.J. Davis Rev. Rev. Deborah J. Watt Rev. Yvette Taylor

September 1931

September 1932

Part of 1932
September 1934

September 1936

February 1937

September 1937

September 1941

September 1943

September 1944

October 1948

June 1950

September 1950

March 1961

September 1966

September 1966.
September 1968

September 1972

September 1979

September 1982

September 1989

December 1996

November 1998

December 1998

November 2001

November 2005

December 2005

September 2011

November 2014

November 2017

Present