Celebrating 96 Years of Fellowship

Greater St. Peter 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 The Reverend George W. Young who pastored in Abbeyville, South Carolina.

The 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.

Other pastors succeeding The Reverend Young were: The Reverend H.D. Garner (1916-1917); The Reverend T.N. Fritzpatrick (1917-1918); The Reverend Horace Williams (1918-1922); The Reverend J.S. Drake (1922-1923); The Reverend R. Lee (1923-1924); The Reverend P.W. Williams (1924-1925); The Reverend W.H. Jackson (1926); The Reverend H.E. Thornton (1926-1928); The Reverend D. W. Wiggs (1928-1930); The Reverend W.R. Wilkes (1930-1932); The Reverend S.C. Phelps (1932-1935); The Reverend B.C. Carswell (1935-1938); The Reverend A.M. Threat (1938-1944).

The Reverend M.B. McClendon, (1944-1952); under the pastorate and leadership of The Reverend M.B. McClendon, the Cain Street Church was built. The Reverend A.A. Hightower (1952-1954). The Reverend T.D. Dozier (1954-1956); it was during this period that the Highland Avenue structure was completed and the members marched into this new edifice. The Reverend W.T. Gilliard succeeded the Reverend Dozier and it was under his dynamic leadership for seventeen years (1956-1973), that St. Peter experienced the greatest growth. During his pastorate the church structure was moved back and improvements were made bringing the church up to its present status. The Reverend T.L. Mency (1973-1978).

The Reverend Oliver Saxby Jr. assumed the helm of this congregation in 1978 and served until 1997.

In 1997, Bishop Donald G.K. Ming, Presiding Bishop of the Six Episcopal District appointed The Reverend Isaiah J. Waddy as Pastor of Greater St. Peter. Under Reverend Waddy's pastorate and leadership in November 1998 they moved from Highland Avenue to 8647 Tara Blvd. 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.

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.”

Various ministries and choirs were established including the Men’s Choir, the Oliver Saxby Jr. Children's Choir, Evangelism Ministry, Greeting and Hospitality Ministry, and other previously established ministries which are ongoing.

The church body is focusing on a commitment to tithing, and financial stewardship. The history of Greater St. Peter African Methodist Episcopal (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. It came about not as a dissatisfied group of members of one A.M.E. congregation, but as a desire of a group to organize another A.M.E. church in an area where God gave Reverend Waddy the vision, and the people the spirit of obedience to, “build a church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!”

9540 Fayetteville Rd, Jonesboro GA 30236  |  770.210.4100