ESTABLISHED IN 1913 

Greater St. Peter African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E) Church was organized in February 1913 in the home of the Nelson Family. After the church was formed, the members rented a room in the basement of the house located on Alexander Street in order to hold services. Services for Greater St. Peter were held in this basement area for three years. The founder and organizer of this great church was Reverend George W. Young who pastored in Abbeyville, South Carolina. Reverend Young pastored the church from its founding in 1913 until 1916 with a membership of forty–seven. The three trustees serving at that time were: Brothers L.M. Young, J.M. Green, and W.M. White.

In 1997, Bishop Donald G.K. Ming, Presiding Bishop of the Six Episcopal District appointed Reverend Isaiah J. Waddy as the Pastor of Greater St. Peter Church. In November 1998, under Reverend Waddy's vision and pastoral leadership, the church moved from Highland Avenue to 8647 Tara Boulevard in Jonesboro, Georgia where a committee was formed to rename the church and it was unanimously decided to add “at Rivers Edge” to Greater St. Peter A.M.E. Church. The church is now known as Greater St. Peter A.M.E. at Rivers Edge, because the new edifice is located on 18 acres of land near the “edge of Flint River in Jonesboro.” The church body focuses on a commitment to tithing and financial stewardship.  Various new ministries and choirs were established including the Men’s Choir, the Oliver Saxby Jr. Children's Choir, Evangelism Ministry, Greeting and Hospitality Ministry, and many previously established ministries continue to operate.
 
The history of Greater St. Peter A.M.E Church begins as most A.M.E. churches. It emerged out of the labors of those who toiled to build a sanctuary unto the Glory of God. The desire of the group was to organize an A.M.E. church in an area where God gave Reverend Waddy the vision, and the members operated in the spirit of obedience to “build a church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!”

Pastors of Greater St. Peter A.M.E. Church

Reverend George W. Young (1913-1916)

Reverend H.D. Garner (1916-1917)

Reverend T.N. Fritzpatrick (1917-1918)

Reverend Horace Williams (1918-1922)

Reverend J.S. Drake (1922-1923)

Reverend R. Lee (1923-1924)

Reverend P.W. Williams (1924-1925)

Reverend W.H. Jackson (1926)

Reverend H.E. Thornton (1926-1928)

Reverend D. W. Wiggs (1928-1930)

Reverend W.R. Wilkes (1930-1932)

Reverend S.C. Phelps (1932-1935)

Reverend B.C. Carswell (1935-1938)

Reverend A.M. Threat (1938-1944) 

Reverend M.B. McClendon (1944-1952) 

Reverend A.A. Hightower (1952-1954)

Reverend T.D. Dozier (1954-1956)

Reverend W.T. Gilliard (1956-1973)

Reverend T.L. Mency (1973-1978)
 
Reverend Oliver Saxby Jr. (1978-1997)

Reverend Isaiah J. Waddy (1997-present)