HR1020 LRB095 20193 GRL 46815 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to congratulate the congregation
4 of the Allen Chapel AME Church in Galesburg on the occasion of
5 the church's 155th anniversary; and
 
6     WHEREAS, The Allen Chapel AME Church was formed in May of
7 1853 by Susan Van Allen Richardson; after attending an African
8 Methodist Episcopal Church Conference in Chicago, she had a
9 vision of an AME church in Galesburg; she formed the Allen
10 Chapel AME Church in her home, naming the church after Richard
11 Allen, the first AME Bishop; and
 
12     WHEREAS, In 1858, the Allen Chapel AME Church purchased
13 their first property for four hundred dollars; constructed of
14 wood, the church was destroyed by fire in the 1870s; the church
15 was then rebuilt by Reverend Charles S. Jacobs, but suffered
16 another fire a few weeks later; not to be overcome by such
17 circumstances, Reverend Charles S. Jacobs and the Allen Chapel
18 AME Church congregation rebuilt the church once again; the new
19 Allen Chapel AME Church building stood until 1911, when the
20 building was remodeled entirely in brick under the direction of
21 the Reverend Timothy Tyler; and
 
22     WHEREAS, Allen Chapel AME Church's current pastor,

 

 

HR1020 - 2 - LRB095 20193 GRL 46815 r

1 Reverend Dr. Leoma Leigh-Williams, is the church's first female
2 pastor in its 155-year history; and
 
3     WHEREAS, The Allen Chapel AME Church holds the distinction
4 of remaining in the same location since the original wooden
5 structure was constructed in the 1800s; and
 
6     WHEREAS, The strong sense of dedication and purpose shared
7 by the congregation of the Allen Chapel AME Church is worthy of
8 the greatest respect; therefore, be it
 
9     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
10 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
11 congratulate the congregation of the Allen Chapel AME Church in
12 Galesburg on the occasion of the church's 155th anniversary and
13 wish them continued success and happiness in the future; and be
14 it further
 
15     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
16 presented to Reverend Dr. Leoma Leigh-Williams as a symbol of
17 our esteem and respect.