Rev. Dr. William Preston Stevenson Second Pastor 1932-1949

Rev. Dr. William P. Stevenson was born in Staunton, VA on October 21, 1902. His family moved to Philadelphia in 1912. He joined St. John's A.M.E. Church in 1917, preached his trial sermon July 15, 1923, ordained a deacon May 15, 1927 and an elder June 2, 1929. Rev. Stevenson pastored churches in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Philadelphia, Bryn Mawr, and Steelton, Pennsylvania. At Jones Tabernacle (20th & Dauphin), Rev. Stevenson paid off the edifice’s $31,000 debt, negotiated the $60,000 purchase and relocation of the present church, as well as three additional buildings. Additionally, he established the Nurse’s Aide, redesigned the sanctuary and outer grounds, installed a new heating system, purchased a baby grand piano, four organ chambers, including an automatic carillon with tower speakers, and a complete public address system. In 1949, when he was reassigned to Bethel Ardmore, he left the Jones Tabernacle with a membership exceeding 1,300.

He was founder of the Columbia Branch YMCA, Trinity Healthcare Corporation, Trinity Church Community Development Corporation and the Chris J. Perry Lodge 495 (I.B.P.O.E.W). He was also a member of the Mercy-Douglass Hospital Board of Managers, organizer and director of Philadelphia's first Cathedral Choir and a member of the Free and Accepted Masons. Rev. Stevenson received undergraduate, graduate and doctoral level education from Lincoln, Drew, Boston, Temple, Wilberforce and Union (Theological Seminary) Universities. Bishop Frank C. Cummings eulogized the Rev. Dr. William Preston Stevenson at Jones Tabernacle on Friday, September 18.

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Rev. Seymour Holman Barker Third Pastor 1949-1963

Originally from Barbados, Rev. Dr. Seymour Holman Barker came to Jones Tabernacle and began working right away. He completely renovated the church, retired the mortgage, installed restroom facilities, and added a new console. He developed and maintained a "high" worship service and progressive Christian education programs with a paid director. Rev. Barker received his early education in the West Indies and earned a doctorate from Wilberforce University.

Under his administration, Jones Tabernacle established the largest academic tutorial program for students in the North Philadelphia area. Rev. Barker coined the church's motto: "Go Forth With Courage And Serve The Lord", which is now inscribed over the arch of the sanctuary. Because of his faithful service to God and man, the chapel at Jones Tabernacle was renamed in his honor and dedicated to his legacy. After 42 years in the ministry, Rev. Barker passed away as pastor of Jones in 1967. Bishop John R. Bright presided over his funeral service.

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Rev. Dr. Emmer Henri Booker   Fourth Pastor 1964-1966

Rev. Dr. Emmer H. Booker's first pastoral assignment was in Reno, Nevada. He later accepted an invitation from the A.M.E. Church to pastor Mt. Pisgah, which had been totally destroyed by fire. Within two years, he completely rebuilt that church at a cost of more than $500,000, which was fully paid off within five years and the membership was increased from 366 to 1,087. Next, he was assigned to Bridge Street in Brooklyn, NY where he increased membership from 682 to 1,896. He then moved on to Queens, NY where he constructed a $1 million church along with a youth and elder community center. When he accepted the Jones Tabernacle assignment, he raised $110,000 to construct a youth center in the basement, and made other church renovations as well. He instituted rehabilitation programs for area youth gangs, began a pre-school program and increased membership from 1,500 to 1,886. In 1966, Rev. Booker accepted a presiding elder appointment from Bishop Bright for the Harrisburg District, but later decided to start his own church, Temple of Divine Love.

Rev. Booker received undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees from Howard and Temple Universities, Queens College, the University of Buffalo, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America and The Julliard Institute of Music. Prior to accepting his call to preach, he toured the U.S., Canada and Europe in musical productions. He also produced two stage plays, which opened to huge crowds in Washington, DC and New York City. He held memberships in several organizations including the American Red Cross, NAACP, the Police Athletic League of New York City, Kiwanis International, Big Brothers of America, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and the American Association for the United Nations. Although he left the A.M.E. Church, Rev. Booker often visited Jones Tabernacle and was received with great admiration. Graveside services were held for Rev. Dr. Emmer Henri Booker on September 20, 1981.

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Rev. Eustace Lewis Blake  Fifth Pastor 1966-1976

Rev. Eustace Lewis Blake was the youngest of three sons and the 10th child of John Addison and Mintia Hooker Blake in Carey, North Carolina on April 25, 1895. He completed theological studies at Wilberforce University. He served the A.M.E. Church for more than 55 years, having been ordained June 1924. He pastored churches in Connecticut (Knight Street), Massachusetts (Loring Street), Ohio, Philadelphia (Mother Bethel, Jones Tabernacle) and New Jersey (St. James). At one time, all three of his brothers served as pastors in the A.M.E. Church.

At the Tabernacle, Rev. Blake organized the Jones Tabernacle Associates, the Jones Tabernacle Community Welfare Association, the Jones Tabernacle Non-Profit Organization, One Woman's Club, the Bicentennial Observance, the Economic Workshop Conference, a Hunger March to Washington (1969) and the Trustee Aid Club. He retired from the A.M.E. church on November 14, 1976 after his health began to fail. On October 9, 1979, Rev. Eustace Lewis Blake passed away. Funeral services were held at Mother Bethel and Bishop Richard Allen Hildebrand presided. The chapel at Jones Tabernacle is so named in his memory.

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Rev. Dr. Harry James White Sixth Pastor 1976-1988

Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, Rev. Dr. Harry J. White, Jr. received his early education in the public school systems of Tennessee, Alabama, Utah, Arizona, California and New York, as his father, the late Rev. Dr. Harry J. White, Sr., was a pastor in the A.M. E. Church. He graduated with a B. A. in Education from Wilberforce University, and an M. A. and Ph. D in Divinity from Payne Theological Seminary. Along with several other organizations, he is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

Rev. White taught History and Special Education in the public school systems of Buffalo and Rochester, NY, Passaic, NJ and Norwalk, CT (chaired the Black History Department). He has pastored in Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Bermuda and Pennsylvania. Currently, he pastors at Bethel Freeport in Long Island, New York. While pastor of Jones Tabernacle, Rev. White started a community legal clinic, disposed of the mortgage, completed major renovations of over $300,000, and had Jones Tabernacle recognized and declared a National Historic Landmark by the State of Pennsylvania.

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