From a men's club in 1941 to the Servant Church of the Oranges, here is our history as far as we know it today, pastor by pastor.
Since 1942
A small group of public and spirit-minded male citizens known as the J. Garfield Tynes Men's Club was organized on May 14, 1941 to render a more efficient type of Christian service in the community. Its members were Gardner Smith (Chairman), Charles Congleton, E.L. Edmonson, David Beasley, William Reed, Nolan Dunn, William Weaks, Walter Davis, Clarence Lee, James Carraway, and John Boykin. On June 12, 1942, the ladies united with the men, and out of that union came the Unity Circle.
That fall, the club took on a new purpose, resolving to form a new church in the Oranges, "To the Glory of God and the African Methodist Episcopal Church." With this in mind, Saint Matthew African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in the home of Mr. Gardner Smith by the Reverend Thomas L. Puryear.
The church's first service was held November 15, 1942 at St. Luke's Hall, 148 Central Place, Orange. Rev. Puryear, the first pastor, was appointed by Bishop David Simms at the 71st Annual Conference, and preached from the theme "What Is Your Life and Responsibility of a Christian in a Confused World?" As the young congregation grew, it needed larger quarters and moved to the Masonic Temple at 89 Parrow Street on December 31, 1942. The first anniversary service was celebrated on November 21, 1943 with Bishop Simms as guest speaker, and services continued there until 1944.
On Saturday, October 15, 1944, the congregation moved into the spacious dwelling that is now the parsonage, where services were held for seven and a half years. Remarkable success in fundraising made construction on the present site possible, beginning in 1951 and completed in 1952 under the leadership of Rev. Thomas Puryear. The carpet was laid and the organ installed in 1953. His pastorate ran from 1942 until 1954.
On Sunday, May 2, 1954, Rev. James C. Choice was appointed pastor by Bishop Decator W. Nichols. His administration was a season of significant transformation and reconstruction, and much was accomplished before his leadership ended in 1963.
Rev. Theodore R. Kelsey was assigned in July 1963 by Bishop George Baber. During his pastorate the sanctuary was decorated, a complete kitchen was installed, and the mortgage was burned. His pastorate ended in 1967.
In November 1967 the late Rev. Sylvester Odom was appointed by Bishop John D. Bright. Under his leadership the parsonage was improved, a new furnace was installed, and plans for air-conditioning were set in motion. He was transferred in 1969.
The late Rev. Booker T. Cartwright became pastor by appointment of Bishop John D. Bright on April 20, 1969, and it was during his tenure that the air-conditioning was installed. His pastorate ended in 1972.
On May 14, 1972, the late Rev. Frank Williams was assigned by Bishop Bright. He initiated a major renovation, modernizing the kitchen and third-floor bathroom among other improvements. Though God called him home after only six months, his leadership left a lasting impact.
During the interim, Rev. John W. Jackson, the church's capable assistant pastor, carried the responsibility until the annual conference convened. Bishop Ernest Hickman then appointed Rev. Leroy Attles in 1973. His pastorate saw many commissions organized and major improvements made, including a new church roof, interior and exterior painting, and storm windows for the parsonage. In 1977 he was assigned to Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Rev. Charles E. Martin was appointed in 1977 by Bishop Hickman. He advanced plans for a larger sanctuary, laid the groundwork for a day care center, and organized Friday Youth Recreation Nights for children in the neighborhood. Mayor Joel Shane of Orange appointed him to organize the city's Affirmative Action Commission and draft policy with the City Council. Bishop Richard Allen Hildebrand later appointed him to pastor in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
The Rt. Rev. Reginald T. Jackson was appointed in 1981 by Bishop Richard Allen Hildebrand. Much of what Saint Matthew is today is the result of his leadership. During his pastorate the congregation grew tremendously, both numerically and spiritually, requiring the erection of a new edifice in 1985 and expansion of that sanctuary and construction of a community life center in 2002.
Bishop Jackson had the church adopt the theme "The Servant Church of the Oranges," leading Saint Matthew to provide more than 20 ministries serving both church and community. Special interest was placed in children and their education, and in social justice and political and economic empowerment. He founded NIDA (the Neighborhood Improvement Development Association), the church's community development corporation, and renamed the former rectory "Memorial Hall," which houses the church school and serves as the church's Christian Education Center.
His influence reached well beyond the Oranges. Leading the Black Ministers Council of New Jersey from 1994 to 2012, he helped guide the direction of more than 600 Black churches across the state, becoming one of New Jersey's most respected moral voices. He pressed for equity in school funding, charity care, and an end to predatory lending and the death penalty, and after three Black men were shot on the New Jersey Turnpike in 1998 he led the charge against racial profiling until New Jersey became the first state in the nation to make it a crime.
Bishop Jackson served on numerous boards. He chaired the Board of Trustees of Essex County College, sat for sixteen years on the Board of Education of the Orange Public Schools, twelve of them as its president, and served on the boards of Barnabas Health and New Brunswick Theological Seminary. A life member of the NAACP, he was named Man of the Year by New Jersey Monthly in 2000 and appeared repeatedly among the state's twenty-five most influential people.
His pastorate ended when he was elevated to episcopal service in November 2012.
Rev. Dr. Lanel D. Guyton was appointed on November 17, 2012 by Bishop Gregory G. M. Ingram. He continued to lead and champion the charge of Saint Matthew as the Servant Church of the Oranges, bringing changes to the church's operations and its engagement in ministry.
Pastor Guyton embraced the community. He fostered relationships on the local, county, and state level, partnering with political leaders and neighbors on initiatives to end violence. Among the outreach efforts he began and championed was "Bridging the Gap," an annual 3-on-3 street ball tournament for young people ages 13 to 18, held at Central Park beside Orange Middle School. What began as a summer basketball game became a yearly gathering place, meeting young people where they were and drawing them into the life of the church and the wider community.
Through his leadership and vision, Saint Matthew opened the doors of its nonprofit (501c3), the Community Improvement Association of the Oranges (C.I.A.O.), to provide a host of community services. Rev. Guyton has also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Essex County College.
His pastorate ended when he was elevated to Presiding Elder in June 2018.
Rev. Melvin E. Wilson was appointed on June 16, 2018 by Bishop Gregory G. M. Ingram, becoming the 11th pastor of Saint Matthew AME Church. With his appointment, Saint Matthew began a new chapter. Pastor Wilson continues to lead and champion the charge of Saint Matthew being "A Servant Church."
That charge was tested almost at once. During the coronavirus pandemic from 2020 to 2023, the church became a key strategic partner with local, county, state, and federal agencies, the first faith-based institution in the State of New Jersey to offer COVID-19 testing and one of ten FEMA sites in the state to offer the first COVID-19 vaccine. Saint Matthew provided over 15,000 free dinners to the community during those years.
The work did not end with the pandemic. Saint Matthew continues to serve the homeless, unsheltered, and working poor, with mental health, health, and wellness an important focus of its ministry alongside a strong emphasis on biblical teaching. To carry that mission further, the church has purchased a box truck for its weekly food pantry, a 40-passenger coach bus, and property for the development of housing.
Two efforts speak to the heart of that ministry. Recognizing that a traditional sanctuary can be overwhelming for some worshipers, Pastor Wilson led the creation of a Sensory Room at Saint Matthew. Designed as a peaceful, welcoming retreat, the room offers a quieting environment along with a live monitor of the worship service, so that children on the autism spectrum, and any adult or child with special needs, remain fully included in worship at their own comfort level. Greeters direct families to the space, and the church has since offered the room as a working model for other congregations, an invitation to the wider church to make worship genuinely accessible to everyone.
In the same spirit, Saint Matthew partnered with community organizations and the City of Orange to bring the first mobile hygiene shower unit to the community, dedicated at the church in 2022. The custom-built trailer holds showers, sinks, laundry, and a room for medical, dental, and mental health services. From the Oakwood Avenue site it serves neighbors experiencing homelessness, offering not only a hot shower but hot food, clothing, haircuts, and health screenings, restoring dignity alongside basic care.
Pastor Wilson shares in this ministry with Rev. Leslie Wilson, First Lady and Minister to Women.
This history reflects our records as of today. If you can help us fill a gap or correct a detail, we would love to hear from you.