An old adage of "A picture paints a thousand words" is appropriate to pictures that tell a story of a time past that needs to be remembered and treasured. Every church has someone who has kept a picture of the church when it was first started. One is this picture. It is a portrait of the congregation of St. Lukes Tabernacle Colored Methodist Episcopal Church around the years 1914-1920. With the help of one of our oldest members, Mrs. Rosie Shelby and her cousin, Mrs. Myrtle Chatman, who had this picture, we can see some interesting gems of history of African Americans in Champaign County. According to Mrs. Shelby and Mrs. Chatman, the picture is dated around 1914 to 1919. Both ladies recognize the pastor who was Reverend W.T.Whitsitt. Notice the cornerstone on the right hand side and the church building in the background. This is different than what one sees in the building today.

The families represented in the picture are many: the Pickens, the Pettifords, the Nesbitts, the Tisdales, the Hopkins, the Miles, the Valentines, and the Abernathys are just some of the families shown. The fashions of the time are clearly noticed. For instance, during that time "Mortar Boards" on the women's heads were worn on members of the choir. Some of the women had bonnets which were worn by those who were on the Stewardess Board.

Between 1914 and 1919, Fifth and Tremont Streets, where the church is located, families of Italian, German, as well as African descent were living in the neighborhood. Though it was an integrated neighborhood, only Black children attended Lawhead School which can be seen in the picture as the tall building behind the church. Also during this time Tremont Street went from Poplar Street to Sixth Street. The park, as we see it today, was not developed at that time.

This picture is one of many pictures older members have that shows the rich history of African American churches in Champaign County. Mrs. Shelby and Mrs. Chatman are just two of many people at St. Luke who have pictures that they can tell a wonderful story of the history young people need to read in order to understand how far African Americans have come. It would be worth the time to sit down as I did with those who know pictures of church history that paints "a thousand words."