About us
AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH:
The word African means that the AME church was organized and founded by people of African descent and heritage. Today, the AME Church is a ethnic diverse community of faith.
The church’s roots are of the family of Methodist churches. Methodism provides an orderly system of rules and regulations and places emphasis on a plain and simple gospel.
Episcopal refers to the form of government under which the church operates. It means that the church is governed by bishops. The chief executive and administrative officers of the African Methodist Episcopal denomination are the Bishops of the church.
oUR HISTORY:
At Grant we are committed to bringing people to Jesus and membership in His family, developing people to Christ-like maturity and equipping them for ministry, the church, life and mission in the world, that God might get the glory.
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In 1833, the African Methodist Episcopal Church formed a congregation in Toronto. The members, including both freed men and runaway slaves who had escaped from the United States through the Underground Railroad, met in each other’s homes for worship. Eventually the church assembly moved to Chestnut Street and from there to Richmond Street where a church was built. The church was named Grant, after a beloved minister, Reverend Abraham Grant , who was born a slave in Lake City, Florida.
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Rev. Abraham Grant took every opportunity to further his education and in 1888, he became a Bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Bishop Grant, our namesake, was a founder of Payne Theological Seminary and a trustee of Wilberforce University.
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In 1856, Grant AME Church moved from Richmond Street to a hall at Queen and McCaul Streets. Years later in 1912, the church was dedicated… as Grant Church celebrated its opening service in a building at the corner of University and Elm Streets, which later became the site of the Hospital for Sick Children. The church remained at this location until 1929 when the property was sold and a larger church was purchased at 23 Soho Street, Toronto. Upon the sale of that property in 1991, for the price of $1,500,000, Grant Church relocated here… to 2029 Gerrard Street East, Toronto, where we continue to serve a multicultural, multi-ethnic congregation.
Over the years, Grant AME Church has been blessed to have the dedicated leadership of clergy called by God who work to meet the mandate of the church through worship, evangelism, missions and education.
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Grant AME Church has kept the tradition of self-help and self-determination laid down by Richard Allen and has worked hard to promote the importance of religious and formal education.
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Through the churches’ many ministries, Grant continues to strive to meet the needs of family and community. Through our District connection, the church reaches out globally, spreading the Word of God and serving His people with the goal of leading others to Salvation and sharing God’s love.
For keeping us over all of these years, Lord…
We Thank You!
To God Be The Glory!
Bertha Stephen
our SENIOR pastor:
Grant African Methodist Episcopal Church is a vibrant community of believers who are dedicated to serving God and humankind. With a rich history and a commitment to social justice, this church is a beacon of hope and inspiration for all who seek to live a life of faith and service. Whether you are a long-time member or a newcomer, you will find a warm welcome and a supportive community at Grant AME Church.
How do we do that? By engaging in opportunities to serve others, through prayer and fasting, teaching and living the Word of God. We are people in different stages of our faith and we welcome you to Grant to be a part of our family.
As Paul declares in Philippians 4:13, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’, so we believe that God is our source of strength and our refuge.
A warm welcome awaits you at Grant, wrapped up in love and sealed by the Holy Spirit. We look forward to worship with you!
Come grow with us!
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Blessings and Love
Rev. Kenesha Blake-Newell
our beliefs and structure:
AME Motto “God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, the Holy Spirit Our Comforter, Humankind Our Family”.
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Apostles Creed: I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead; and buried. The third day he arose from the dead’ he ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Church Universal, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.
The African Methodist Episcopal Church is a connectional organization. Each local church is a part of the larger connection.
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The Bishops are the Chief Officers of the Connectional Organization. Presiding Elders are supervisors, middle management, whom the Bishops appoint to supervise the pastors in a Presiding Elder’s District. The pastor appointed is in full charge of the Church and is an ex-official member of all boards, organizations and ministries of that Church.
More information can be found on AME Church website: https://www.ame-church.com/
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