TANNER-PRICE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL (A.M.E.) CHURCH

Tanner-Price A.M.E. Church was formed by the merger of two A.M.E. churches with a combined 180 years of service to the Windsor community.  The history of Tanner-Price can only be explained through the rich history of the two great A.ME. churches which now worship and serve as one under the name Tanner-Price A.ME. Church.

Tanner A.M.E. Church

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In 1852, a small congregation built a small frame church at 365 McDougall St, in Windsor Ontario.  Two of the original founders were, Ransom Coleman and Wiley Reynolds.  The original deed read "Yoeman of the AME Church” until 1856. At that time, the A.M.E. Churches in Canada separated and became the British Methodist Episcopal (B.M.E.) Church of Canada due to the increasing danger for enslaved people of African descent seeking freedom and abolition following the United States’ Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.  Just one year after the formation of the B.M.E. Church, the United States’ Dred Scott decision would extend this danger even further.  The B.M.E. churches in Canada were protected, the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 having been in effect since 1 August 1834 in Canada. 
 
During Reconstruction, following the Emancipation Proclamation (1 January 1863), which eventually conferred freedom on all who were enslaved, and the conclusion of the United States Civil War (9 April 1865), the climate for people of African descent in the United States had improved some.  In 1880, Bishop Richard Randolph Disney perceived opportunities to reunite the B.M.E. churches with the A.M.E. Church and advocated for this at the General Conference that year.  In 1884, the General Conference approved a “co-operation” . . . to “be known as the Reunion of the A.M.E. and B.M.E. Churches in America.”  In 1888, Bishop Benjamin Tanner, after whom Tanner A.M.E. Church was named, purchased a building at Assumption and Mercer Streets formerly owned by members of Mercer Street Baptist Church.  Members of the original A.M.E. Church moved into the building; the first service after the purchase was held on 20 July 1890.  About twenty-five families were affiliated with the church as charter members.
 
After eighty years of service, the building was demolished in October 1962 to make way for development in the City of Windsor downtown area.  Services continued in the Masonic Hall at 900 Mercer Street for a short time until the present-day church at 733 McDougall Street was completed.  On Sunday, 2 June 1963 a dedication service took place. A cornerstone laying ceremony was conducted by members of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Ontario. Bishop Joseph Gomez, Presiding Elder Artic Harris, and Reverend George Alger Coates (1926-2003), who was serving as the Pastor of Tanner, and Tanner’s members attended this ceremony. 
 
In November of 2007, following a merger with Price Memorial A.M.E. Church, Tanner’s name was officially changed to Tanner-Price A.M.E. Church.  
This video -- along with other educational resources about the historic McDougall Street Corridor -- may also be found on www.mcdougallcorridor.ca.  The McDougall Street Corridor website not only offers some further information on Tanner AME Church prior to the merger that created Tanner-Price, but also explains how Tanner was a part of a larger Black community with a rich history in Windsor, Ontario.  Please explore this site to also learn more about the role of Windsor as a place of refuge and terminus of the Underground Railroad for people of African descent enslaved in the United States.

Price Memorial A.M.E. Church

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In the late 1950s, a group of Christians, Benjamin Finley, George Coates, Reverend Julia McKenzie, Nina Lewis, and George & Clair Lewis, were discussing the need for a church in their community in Sandwich West Township.  At that time, they were unable to obtain land to build the proposed church.  Reverend Roosevelt Price with much prayer and perseverance, was able to purchase a little house that was once a grocery store owned by Mrs. Chambers.  It was here that the New Community Church was formed, with Reverend Price as its founder in July 1963.
 
After that period the church, under the leadership of Reverend Rah Johnson, started looking for a new church building as the line house had become too old to continue to maintain.  Mrs. Erma Vinson received information about a small hall on Howard Avenue that was for sale.  The pastor and members purchased the hall for $500.00 and had it moved on a flatbed to 2133 Long fellow Street, the church’s final independent location.
 
In 1965, Reverend Price was called to be with the Lord.  In 1966, the church was officially named Price Memorial A.M.E. Church in honor of Reverend Roosevelt Price.
 
In 1998 under the leadership of Reverend Arnita Traylor, the church sold its extra land and created the George Jones Building Fund, with expectations of building or purchasing a new church house. The local Women’s Missionary Society (W.M.S.) was renamed the Nina Mac Lewis Women's Missionary Society.  Reverend Traylor was able to establish and grow the Young People’s Department (Y.P.D.), Music Department, Sunday School, Bible Class, and Prayer Meeting at Price Memorial. However, the plans to purchase a new church house were not realized.
At the 2007 Canadian Annual Conference, Bishop Philip R. Cousin, oversaw the merger of Price Memorial and Tanner to form one Church, Tanner-Price A.M.E. Church.  The newly formed church was to hold worship services in the Tanner church building, and the property of Price Memorial was to be sold, with funds from this sale being held in trust for future expansion of the newly formed church.
 
In November 2007, the joint congregation voted to change the name of the newly formed church to Tanner-Price A.M.E. Church in honor of the two great churches from which it was born.
 
Please visit the University of Windsor's “Pillars of Society: Religious Institutions" resource for more information about historically Black churches in Windsor, Ontario.

For more information about historic church families of Tanner-Price, please visit the Amherstburg Freedom Museum's “The Reynolds Family History Part 3 - Tanner A.M.E."

For more information about the A.M.E. Church and the A.M.E. Church in Canada,  please utilize this resource: Introduction to the A.M.E. Church and to A.M.E. Churches in Canada.

Tanner-Price A.M.E. Church

PASTORAL LEADERSHIP

Pastors of Tanner-Price since the 2007 merger of Tanner and Price Memorial A.M.E. Churches:
Rev. Jennifer S. Leath, Ph.D.
Rev. Milton Harris
Rev. Tracey Thomas
Rev. Marcus Cylar
Rev. Larry Wilson Sr. 
Rev. Claus Skiby 
​Tanner A.M.E. Church Pastors at the current McDougall location:
Rev. Claus Skiby
Rev. Ray E. Hinds
Rev. Cory Milben
Rev. Eric Tucker
Rev. Priscilla Tucker
Rev. Gibson
Rev. Tyler
Rev. George Alger Coates