Our Church History

The Reverend Edian Markum (later Markham) and his family came to Durham in 1868 and purchased a parcel of land from Mrs. Minerva Fowler that he used for preaching and prayer meetings. People sat on boxes and homemade stools in a church that was nothing more than bushes and long poles fixed in the ground. Shortly thereafter, a log cabin was constructed. 

On August 20, 1869, the church’s six members officially organized as Union Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Molly Markum, the founding pastor’s wife, diligently placed an emphasis on missionary endeavors until her death in February 1941. Rev. Markum was succeeded by Reverends Lewis Edwards and George Hunter, respectively. Rev. Hunter initiated construction of the first frame church building, which was later replaced by a more stable edifice. The second building was completed by Reverends O. Ofley, Lewis Edwards and W.D. Cook.

In 1892, under the leadership of Reverend Andrew Chambers, the cornerstone was laid at 804 Fayetteville Street. The church’s name was also changed to St. Joseph African Methodist Episcopal Church. A successive line of pastors, Reverends W. J. Jordan, W.E. Walker, D.J. Beckett and J.E. Jackson led the completion of the stately brick edifice. The church basement was completed to street level during the pastorate of the Reverend J.A. Valentine.

On November 28, 1948, Reverend David Johnston, his wife, Mrs. Verdelle Johnston, and their daughter arrived at St. Joseph. Rev. Johnston established the Edian D. Markham Memorial Educational Building, built a new parsonage, and organized a Nursery School and First Grade. While at St. Joseph, the Johnstons also expanded their family by welcoming another daughter. 

The Reverend Melvin Chester Swann, along with his wife, Mrs. Dorothy Swann, succeeded Dr. Johnston as pastor in 1958. Under his leadership, the Lay Organization at St. Joseph was established in 1964.

In September 1965, Reverend Philip R. Cousin, Sr. and his wife, Mrs. Margaret Joan Cousin, came to St. Joseph, with their sons. A new parsonage was constructed in October 1968 and seven acres of land at the corner of Fayetteville Street and Burlington Avenue were secured for a new edifice. A dedication service was held in 1974 and the cornerstone laid in October 1975. February 15, 1976, marked a historic milestone, as the congregation marched from 804 Fayetteville Street to 2521 Fayetteville Street. The new facility was officially dedicated on April 11, 1976. June 1976 also marked another milestone in St. Joseph’s history when Rev. Cousin was elected the 96th Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church at the General Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. He was the first AME Bishop elected from North Carolina. On August 15, 1976, Bishop Cousin was succeeded by Reverend William Webster Easley, Jr., with his wife, Mrs. Ora Easley, and son. During his tenure, St. Joseph continued to grow in membership and programs. The church installed and paid for a new Reuter pipe organ, and the Sarah Allen Missionary Unit was formed. Rev. Easley served as pastor for 16 years.

On August 16, 1992, Reverend Philip R. Cousin, Jr., the eldest son of Bishop and Mrs. Philip R. Cousin, Sr., was presented as St. Joseph’s pastor. Under his guidance, the church refurbished church offices and rooms, completely renovated the church’s parsonage, initiated a van ministry, and in 1993 an aggressive plan to liquidate the church mortgage was instituted. In 1996 the church celebrated the burning of its mortgage. Also under Rev. Cousin’s leadership, the church appointed its first female members of the Board of Stewards. Reverend Cousin’s service at St Joseph expanded 21 years.

On June 16, 2013, Rev. Dr. Ronald L. Owens became St. Joseph's Senior Pastor. Dr. Owens, along with his wife, Mrs. Gwendolyn Owens, and daughter, Ronnise, embraced the rich history of the church and implemented a twenty-first century vision and commitment to the St. Joseph church family and the surrounding community. Notably, he initiated a progressive community outreach ministry, instituted programs and resource networks for seniors, and established a college connection ministry with students at North Carolina Central University.

On May 4, 2019, at the conclusion of the Western North Carolina Annual Conference, Bishop James L. Davis appointed Reverend Jonathan C. Augustine as St. Joseph's 31st pastor. In successfully leading St. Joseph through its 150-year anniversary, he instituted #Social Justice Sunday which are quarterly events that recognized the “Royal Ice Cream Seven” sit-in of 1957, United States Senator Kamala D. Harris, a then-candidate for President of the United States, and the Honorable Andrew Young, a former member of Congress, United States Ambassador to the United Nations, and Mayor of Atlanta. He also strengthened St. Joseph’s relationship with North Carolina Central University by welcoming its chancellor and many college students for #NCCUSunday, a quarterly philanthropic ministry to raise scholarship funds for the students. Reverend Augustine, along with his wife, Michelle, and their children, are leading St. Joseph’s 150-year old tradition of excellence and service to the community.

St. Joseph’s historic pastoral leadership has been complimented by the rich engagement of its members. Since the early 1900s, members of St. Joseph have held leadership positions on the Connectional Level in the AME Church and numerous leadership positions in the Western North Carolina Conference (WNCC).