What’s in a name?

Whether you grew up knowing it as Morning Glade or Mowing Glade, we are a church that was formed and built out of love to worship God.  

Sometime in the mid to late 1800’s GOD moved into the hearts, souls, and minds of some Christian people that a building should be built in His name.  We don’t know if they began in the shade of a big oak tree, someone’s home or it could have been in a cotton field.  GOD told them to build, and he provided everything they needed.  As they grew in grace, they aspired to build a wooden building. 

The original name and exact date of this great church is lost forever.  All information was obtained verbally from a few people in the early years of the church.  All information leads one to believe the church was built in the mid to late 1800’s.  It is felt that most or all the information about the church was lost in the fire when it burned in 1918.​Under the leadership of Rev. C.W. Simmons the members and officers of this great church rebuilt and continued to move forward as it had done before the fire. 

In 1965 Rev. J.D. Gladden was appointed as Pastor to Mowing Glade A.M.E. Zion Church and organized it with all departments.  Under Rev. Gladden’s leadership we began to have service every Sunday instead of just on the second and fourth Sundays of each month.​On February 18, 1970, fire destroyed the building yet again.  Services were held in the J.H. Gunn Elementary School Auditorium the next Sunday after the fire.  Rockwell A.M.E. Zion offered the use of their Community Center to hold service.

The offer was accepted, and services were held there until the rebuilding of Mowing Glade was complete.  Rev. Eyo O. Abang and Rev. Ralph A. Froneberger were very instrumental in the rebuilding program.  In July of 1972 the building was dedicated with Rev. Froneberger as pastor. 

Through great faith and lots of hard work, the mortgage burning ceremony was held in December 1976.​GOD has brought us this far by faith.  People near and far call it home.  GOD knew when he gave the vision of this church to the people he chose, their families and friends would not let it die. 

More than a century and a half has passed, and many generations have come and gone, and GOD’s words are still taught and praised in Mowing Glade A.M.E. Zion Church.  We pray that GOD will continue to bless and lead us as he did those before us.