Meet St. Ambrose, Raleigh
Worship, Wisdom, Work
By the Rev. Jemonde Taylor
Saint Ambrose is a vibrant congregation in southeast Raleigh witnessing to the transformational power of the Holy Spirit. The church’s vision is Worship, Wisdom, Work.
Transformation happens through worship in the Episcopal tradition with an emphasis on African American and African culture, evidenced by Ethiopian Orthodox icons as stations of the cross, icons of African American Episcopal saints, needlepoint kneelers of African and African American Episcopal saints, Episcopal service music based on African American spirituals, and a Jazz Mass. Transformation happens through wisdom (Christian formation) with education through the lifecycle. Transformation happens through work (outreach) by responding to environmental racism with ministry connected to flooding in Walnut Creek, green infrastructure building upgrades including three rain gardens, two rainwater cisterns holding nearly 2,000 gallons providing irrigation, restroom and water renovations resulting in using 80% less water, and low-e glass protection for the stained glass windows to reduce heat transmission. Other outreach ministries include the One Church, One School education and mentoring partnership with Fuller Elementary School, Habitat for Humanity Episcopal Build, Wake County foster care, addiction recovery ministries, and the Industrial Area Foundations (IAF) community organizing effort in Wake County.
CHURCH HISTORY
Saint Ambrose began as the worshiping community associated with Saint Augustine’s University for recently emancipated people of African Ancestry following the Civil War in 1868. That same year, the worshiping community built a Carpenter Gothic style chapel in the Smokey Hollow Community on the corner of Lane and Dawson Streets in downtown Raleigh. Saint Ambrose remained there until 1900 when parishioners helped move the entire physical plant one mile to the corner of South Wilmington and Cabarrus Streets. One parishioner reported sitting on her mother’s front porch, watching people slowly “roll” the church to the new location. Saint Ambrose became the first historically African American mission in the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina to become a parish in the 1950s. In 1965, Saint Ambrose moved to its present location on Darby Street in the Rochester Heights neighborhood. Throughout the years, Saint Ambrose impacted the community through education reform, liturgy and worship based on African American Spirituals and Jazz music, substance abuse recovery ministries, criminal justice, food insecurities, civil rights, and environmental justice. Saint Ambrose continues to be the Light of Jesus Christ in Southeast Raleigh.
CHURCH'S VISION PRAYER
Almighty God, give us courage and strength to live into our vision. Mold us into a worshiping community that gives Worship to God, receives Wisdom from God, and Works alongside God. This is our WWW: Worship, Wisdom, Work. We pray this through Jesus Christ our Savior who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and for ever. Amen.
THE HONEY BEE SYMBOL
Our patron saint, Bishop Ambrose of Milan, lived in Italy during the 300s C.E. According to tradition, bees landed on his face as a child, leaving honey on his lips. He was a gifted orator, earning him the name “the honeyed tongue preacher.” The bees and the beehive are historic symbols of Saint Ambrose.
Tags: Meet the Church
