In 1891, Bishop M.R. Franklin was assigned supervision of the Atlanta Church. Unfortunately, Bishop Franklin died shortly after this assignment. This did not deter the faithful members from purchasing a site near the corner of Boulevard and Irwin Streets. Early in the spring of 1891, a small frame building was erected known as Boulevard A.M.E. Zion Church. After the building was completed under the first acting pastor, The Reverend Love, the name was changed to Franklin Memorial Institutional A.M.E. Zion Church in honor of the late Bishop M.R. Franklin.

Following the pastorate of Reverend Love, Reverend L.W. Taylor, Reverend W.E. McIver, Reverend Tuggle, Rev. O.A. Russell and Rev. W. Q. Welch enjoyed their time pastoring the church in Atlanta. The name of the church changed many times.  Prior to being named Franklin Memorial A. M. E. Zion the church was called People’s A. M. E. Zion Church and New A. M. E. Zion respectively.

In 1924, Reverend A.M. Goodwin was appointed to serve as pastor. Reverend Goodwin, was a builder who urged and inspired the members to build a new brick structure at the Boulevard site. The frame church was moved back to Hogue Street and a brick building was erected facing Boulevard. Rev. Goodwin was instrumental in raising and soliciting funds from the White community of Atlanta to keep up mortgage payments held by the Black owned Standard Federal Bank. It was his hope to use the frame building as a home for the elderly. Reverend Goodwin served from 1924 until 1932.

The early church enjoyed social events for adults and youth. During these early days the Reapers Club, Progressive Club, and Alstork I and II were formed mainly to provide spiritual and financial support for the church.  These were times that the members struggled to buy pews, pay the pastor’s salary and assessments.  One of the main fundraising events was the Parade of Roses pageant in which women donned their most elegant gowns and paraded into the church escorted by the men of the church.  Even though these were times of financial stress, the church was very close-knit.

In these early days, Shaw was home for some of the most prominent intellectuals and entrepreneurs of Atlanta including Dr. Rufus Clement, president of Atlanta University, Mrs. Geneva Haugabrooks, prominent female mortician on Auburn Avenue and Mrs. Prentice Jones, co-owner of Frazier’s Cafe Society on West Hunter Street, now Martin Luther King.

Rev. Goodwin would walk the streets of downtown Atlanta in the white business districts and solicit money to help with the mortgage.  There were not many flourishing Black businesses back then, we worked hard and sold everything we could sell as long as Rev. Goodwin stayed, which was about 8 years, we managed.

Then we started getting new ministers, during Rev. Reed’s pastorate the church split and those who left with him organized Old Ship A. M. E. Zion Church.  After that, the bank foreclosed and we lost the church, that was a sad day in Zion, the connection assisted us in relocating on Auburn Ave., where we had a succession of pastors, among our pastors at Boulevard after Rev. Goodwin was Rev. Coleman, Rev. Anderson, both later made bishops, Rev. Fattis, Rev. Shaw, who stayed one month, Rev. Baptiste, Rev. McMurray, Rev. Kirk, Rev. Blakely, Rev. Brothers and some whose names I don’t remember.

We were using cane bottom chairs for a long time, so we purchased pews finally and really worked hard to pay for those.  Most of our children had grown and gone by the time we moved to Auburn Avenue.  I remember Mr. and Mrs. John Porter and Mr. and Mrs. Mose Carter would go into neighborhoods gathering children to bring to church.  The Hargro’s, the Lumpkin children were some of the first, then the Hollingsworth’s, finally we had a nice group of youngsters.  We now have the finest group of young people anywhere, they are dedicated and work harmoniously together.

Note:  Mrs. Annie Sims played piano and organ and directed the Senior Choir until the  1970’s.  She was an active member of the Missionary Society and the Reapers Club.  Mrs. Sims was one of the original members of the Love Doves Senior Ministry and continued her music ministry with the seniors until her death.

The Shaw Temple Senior Ministry was organized under the inspiration of Mrs. Jessie Hargro Kelly, who was active in a senior group in her church in Maryland. After moving back to Atlanta, she spoke to the Pastor Rev. Raymond C. Hart about the formation of a senior ministry. Along with Mrs. Kelly, Mrs. Annie W. Sims, Mrs. Bessie Newsome, Mrs. Prentice Jones, Mrs. Lelia Brothers, Mrs. Rebecca C. Hynson, Mrs. Louise Kimble, Mrs. Mable Walker and Mrs. Mary Yancey formed a committee to organize this group in 1973. Rev. Hart and the Trustee Board established a budget to under gird this program.

The tenants of the program were established to provide outreach to the community, stimulate and encourage seniors to explore new methods of improving and enjoying themselves in fellowship with others in their age group. The seniors meet weekly for devotion, crafts activities, speakers, trips and a hot lunch.

Their craft activities have been their greatest blessing. This group has knitted several hundred hats and scarves, distributed to the homeless, through our Day In My Shoes Ministry, and cancer patients at Grady and Egleston Hospitals in Atlanta and a North GA Hospital in Rome; made lap quilts for nursing home patients for the Not Forgotten Ministry; made preemie size hats, gowns, blankets and Mommie Squares for the NICU at Grady and WellStar hospitals and  over 1,075 pillowcase dresses, 250  boy’s pants and 250 duffle bags were made to accompany our Medical Missions team to be distributed in Liberia, West Africa.  They make hats and scarves for the Carrie Steele Pitts orphanage and distribute hats through our ministries to the homeless. Our members are encouraged to work in the Lord’s Storehouse. They also supported the ministry of Rev. Gwen Moore, as she works to support a church named for her father in Liberia. They provided her with Christian literature, church essentials, Bibles, dresses, toiletries and school supplies.

The Love Doves are known as the most active ministry in the church. They have traveled to Sapelo Island, the Bahamas, Alaska, Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon, Orlando FL, San Antonia, TX and Niagara Falls, CN. They visit State Parks regularly for their annual retreats, have toured and shopped many Main Streets in small town around the state of Georgia. Other activities include bowling, going to the movies, attending plays and special events around the city. Their signature event is hosting their annual Valentine’s luncheon with over 200 guests.

In early years, the group associated with the Atlanta Council on Aging and participated in many of their activities.  When the ROSA Council was organized, we joined ROSA in the 1990’s. ROSA (Reaching Out to Senior Adults) is a network of senior ministries in over 30 churches in the Atlanta area. They encouraged their group be given a name, at the suggestion of Mrs. Willie B. Spann, the Love Doves was adopted as the name of the group.

Mrs. Jessie Kelly served as coordinator of the group for 18 years until her health failed. Mrs. Edna Day followed her, serving one year and Mrs. Elizabeth Robinson served as coordinator for 5 years. Since 1999 Odessa Huff has served along with Helen Bellamy and Velma Brown who share leadership. Under the pastoral leadership of the founding pastor Rev. Raymond C. Hart, Dr. Ndugu T’Ofori-Atta, Dr. John W. Smith, Dr. Louis Hunter, Sr., Dr. George D. Crenshaw, and Rev. Eldren Morrison, this program has continued to serve the church and community for over 43 years.

The Deaconess Board of our church is a faithful ministry supporting communion, funerals, and baptisms in the church.  We can count on the deaconesses to be present for most activities in the church.  Our history records notable deaconesses as Bessie Hammonds, Alma Culbreath, Lonnie M. Buffington, Lois Bloodsaw, Mrs. Lorene S. Jackson, Rebecca C. Hynson, Claudia Gordon and Leila Brothers. Sadie W. Potter, Minnie Clayton, and Thelma Jones became deacons.  Mrs. Jones was consecrated in 1980 and became the president of the Deaconess Board after Mrs. Eva Jones became ill. She served faithfully in the capacity of President until her death.  Mrs. Jones would travel with the pastor to commune the sick and shut-in and would send them cards with a few dollars inside to cheer them.  Most pastors who came to the church were invited into her home to dinner that she prepared and her daughters helped her serve.

While in search of a new place to worship during the interim period, Reverend Carlton Brown and members of New Life A.M.E. Zion Church, offered to share their sanctuary at 3300 Roosevelt Highway, College Park, GA.  We held our Sunday School at 9:30 AM and Sunday services at 12:00 PM. We also held our weekly meetings and rehearsals there. New Life was very generous in sharing space, including office space. We had a loyal group of dedicated choir members who came together from the Chancel Choir, Gospel Chorus, Men’s Choir and the original Mass Choir, to form a “Mass Choir.” Those members who wanted to remain in Atlanta formed the Faith A. M. E. Zion Church.

The loyal board of trustees, led by Mr. Fred Burks as chairman, were determined to lead the congregation to a new place of worship. Other members of the board were Mr. Brady Barnett, Mrs. Bertha Howard-Bray, Mrs. Odessa Huff, Mr. Bertram Jones, Mr. Windell Mayes, Ms. Candace Moore, Mr. Jerrell Swinney, Mrs. Dorothy Williams and Ms. Vivian Wright.

In January 2000, the purchase of the property known as Fortified Hills Baptist Church was completed. Our first worship services in our new church home was held on Sunday, January 23, 2000. The motorcade began at the old 38 H. E. Holmes location, and proceeded to the new edifice at 775 Hurt Road Smyrna, GA. It was a very cold and icy day. As one might imagine, the attendance was very low on that day, however, the majority, approximately 230 persons maintained their membership at Shaw Temple.

The church and worship facilities were dedicated, Sunday, March 5, 2000. Bishop Joseph Johnson led the dedication ceremony. Shaw Temple hosted the Board of Bishops meeting in 2004 bringing the A.M.E. Zion Church connectional family to Atlanta to worship in our newly acquired edifice. Many new ministries were started in the new property. Mrs. Hunter led in the establishment of the hospitality ministry. A Nursery ministry was started under the leadership of Dr. Carolyn Huff, Director of Christian Education.

Later in 2004, Dr. Louis Hunter was elected the 94th Bishop of the A.M.E. Zion Church. In October 2004, Bishop Clarence Carr appointed Reverend Dr. George D. Crenshaw as pastor at the 137th Session of the Georgia Annual Conference. Bishop and Mrs. Carr became members of Shaw Temple in 2008. Under Dr. Crenshaw’s leadership, the church continued to grow spiritually, financially, and numerically. Dr. Crenshaw captivated the congregation with his powerful preaching. He proclaimed his motto as “Seeing, Speaking & Serving the Same Vision”. His vision gave birth to 66 new ministries serving under one or more of the Five-Fold Ministries: Discipleship, Worship, Evangelism, Fellowship and Service. Dr. Crenshaw authorized and participated in two of four Shaw Temple Evangelism and Medical Missions to Liberia Africa.This contributed to Shaw Temple being presented the Evangelism Church Award from the World Methodist Evangelism Institute in 2011. Dr. Crenshaw was also the “visionary” for the Shaw Temple Biblical and Leadership Institute (STBLI), which operated for five years. Classes were free to all members of Shaw Temple. A modest fee was charged for the community and conference members to attend. Dr. Crenshaw appointed Mrs. Laurena Crenshaw as director of the Shaw Temple Learning Center. Mrs. Crenshaw increased parent interaction and added a media room. Bishop and Mrs. Warren M. Brown affiliated with Shaw Temple after they moved to the Atlanta area.

The Lay Council grew and became a more prominent ministry in the church in 1988 under the leadership of Vivian Wright. In 2005, the Lay Council established the annual Marshall Jones Lay Council Dinner. Mr. Marshall Jones had been a faithful member who often led songs and prayer before the congregation. In 2014, the late Basketball/Lay Council Hall of Famer and life member Mr. Walter (Walt) Bellamy was honored posthumously. Mr. Walt and Mrs. Helen Bellamy have made significant contributions to the Lay Council and their community. The Walt and Helen Bellamy Scholarship has been established with annual recipients being rewarded finances to help with college expenses. Walt Bellamy served as Second Vice President and Membership Chair to the Lay Council from 2003-2010. He was very faithful and dedicated to the Lay Council, collected dues and expressed his desire to have 100% membership at Shaw Temple. The current President, Coleen Daly established the Clarence Carr Quiz Bowl which involves our youth. The Lay council is one of our vibrant ministries.

Dr. Crenshaw’s powerful messages continued to feed and nourish Shaw Temple until in 2016 when he was elected the 103rd Bishop in the A.M.E. Zion Church.

There were many significant laity in the life of the church.  Among these are: Trustees Dr. Rufus E. Clement; Dr. Otis Lily, noted fundraiser; Mrs. Tommie Weeks, the first woman trustee; Mr. Rufus Tillman, who was meticulous in keeping the grounds; Charles Tunstall, Arthur Wellborn, Cecil Gordon, Brady Barnett, Vernon A. Buck, Mrs. Bertha Howard-Bray, Mrs. Louise Lumpkin Berry, Mr. Frank Collins, Mr. Walt Bellamy, Mr. Henry Brown, Mr. Fred Burks, and Tony DeWitt were devoted, hardworking trustees; Stewards Mr. Edward L. Brothers, Mr. Roosevelt Woodard, and Mr. James McCrary. Prominent Sunday School Superintendents were Joseph Brothers and Roosevelt Woodard.  Mrs. Annie W. Simms was the pianist and organists of the church for over 50 years. Ina Hayes Brothers served as the church clerk for many years.

Shaw Temple is the ‘mother church ‘of the Georgia Annual Conference and leading congregation of the South Atlantic Episcopal Area. Shaw Temple has stood as a citadel for God in Zion under 30 Presiding Bishops and by 49 pastors. From this, the “Mother church of Georgia Conference,” three societies have been birthed and have evolved into vibrant congregations: Solid Rock A.M.E. Zion Church, New Life A.M.E. Zion Church and Faith A.M.E. Zion Church.

On August 13,th 2016, Bishop Mildred B. Hines appointed Reverend Eldren D. Morrison as the 49th pastor of Shaw Temple. The first Sunday in October 2016 Pastor Morrison, Mrs. Morrison and their daughter Ava, began ministry at Shaw Temple. Pastor Morrison has come to Shaw Temple with a vision to build upon its great heritage and move Shaw Temple forward with a mission shaped by evangelism and excellence in ministry.

Pastor Morrison has reorganized our church and has set “Shaw Temple Fixer-Upper” as our vision, which will include a revitalization of ministries and renovation of the property.

We’re totally reorganizing ministry to promote healthy church growth at Shaw Temple and our mission is “Inviting all into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.” Bible studies led by the pastor are teaching members what it means to be a church member and how to keep a healthy church through spiritual growth and outreach.  Mrs. Stachia Morrison is the director of the Shaw Temple Learning Center. Mrs. Morrison is already making great strides to create an even more impactful program to give children a solid foundation to learn and grow.  Under the leadership of Pastor and Mrs. Morrison we know and expect great things in this new season at Shaw Temple.

Shaw Temple has a rich and meaningful history.  Even today we have persons as members who worshipped at Shaw on Sweet Auburn Avenue.  These faithful members are Sina Hargro Edwards, Maynie Hargro Anthony, Windell Mayes, Odessa Hargro Huff, Sheryl Jones Croft, Stephanye Jones Ware and Woodrow Jones.