10th Bishop
Thomas M.D. Ward
Bishop Thomas M.D. Ward organized the first African-American Church established in Colorado.
- Birth Date: September 28, 1823
- Consecration Date: May 25, 1868 (served 19 years)
- Death Date: June 1894
- Spouse: Rachel Ward
Thomas Marcus Decatur Ward was born September 28, 1823, in Hanover, PA. He was licensed to preach in 1843, ordained a deacon in 1847, ordained an elder in 1849 by Bishop Quinn, and ordained a Bishop on May 25, 1868.
St. John AME Church was organized by Bishop Thomas M. D. Ward. The first church building, a log cabin, was erected on land donated by Major Fillmore, a Union officer in the Civil War. The church began with eighteen members, including six trustees: Gibble Burrel, Samuel Cook, Alvin Cummings, Gilbert Phelps, Lewis Price and Irving Williams. In 1880, to honor the presiding Bishop, James A. Shorter, St. John AME Church was renamed Shorter Chapel.
Grace Chapel A.M.E. was renamed in 1921 to Ward Memorial A.M.E. Church after the late Bishop Thomas M.D. Ward who was the 10th bishop of the A.M.E. Church. Bishop Ward is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery on Benning Road, N.E. Ward Memorial was moved in 1923 to its present location, 241 42nd Street N.E.
Information from: A Budget of 1904: containing a complete organization of the church by AME, Benjamin William Arnett.
And from: http://www.shorterame.org
And from: http://www.wardmemorialamec.org
