Our Church Community

Join us in worship at St. John Westwood.  

A Warm Welcome Awaits.

Since its inception has been known as ‘the little church with a big heart’. Our very first members purchased land in 1911.

By 1915, the original wooden frame house of worship constructed became the first black community church in the Westwood area. Between 1917 and 1921, work commenced on the concrete building and basement of this historic church.

Women played a pivotal role in the life of the church, and this rich legacy of service continues to this present age. St John AME’s first members were predominantly black mothers who worked as caregivers for affluent white persons in the area. One such mother, Miss Lilian Henderson, unselfishly gave a mother’s mite to purchase 91 square feet frontage for the church, together with new pulpit furniture and baptismal font. Today, our Missionary society carries her name as an enduring legacy of her light and service in the vineyard.

Pastors Of St John AME Church

  1. Rev L.E Foster
  2. Rev C.F. Hughes
  3. Rev B.F White
  4. Rev. J.H Hartley
  5. Rev C. W Freeman
  6. Rev. H.R. Smith
  7. Rev S.P. Overton
  8. Rev R..N. Smith
  9. Rev G.W. Mills
  10. Rev . E. M. Kelly
  11. Rev . S.L Sturgis
  12. Rev. F.D. Jones
  13. Rev M.W Smith
  14. Rev C.F. Duhart
  15. Rev A.N Bush
  16. Rev E.M Mitchell
  17. Rev. J.D. Mc Daniels
  18. Rev G.W Moore
  19. Rev G.D. Lewis
  20. Rev. W.H. Wright
  21. Rev. T.D. Christian
  22. Rev. J.A. Jones
  23. Rev. C.Brown
  24. Rev. R Matthews
  25. Rev A . Watson
  26. Rev. J.I Kilby
  27. Rev. V.A Brown
  28. Rev. R. Leadbetter
  29. Rev. H. Cavaness
  30. Rev. L. Barker Leonard
  31. Rev. C. Jones
  32. Rev. Sharon Monsanto
  33. Rev. Carl E Stuart
  34. Rev. Laymah E. Cisco
  35. Rev. Dr. D. Adrian Wilkins

Present and Future

For over a century, St John has been a sanctuary of spiritual awakening, a beacon of hope, a house of healing and refuge, and a haven for justice and liberty for all persons. St. John’s Pastors have a long tradition of servant leadership, in response to the call of God on their lives and the passion to serve all God’s children, as Kingdom ambassadors. The pastors and members of this great church all share in the legacy of love and benevolence.

This historic church has had 35 pastors, the first being Rev. L. E. Foster, the Longest Serving Rev. Sharon Monstano.