The Mission of the AME Church is to minister to the social, spiritual, and physical development of all people. Join us as we serve our community in Lake City, SC and share Christ’s message of love and hope.
9:00am
10:00am
Wednesdays at 6pm
Church School & Sunday Worship: 339 Moore Street, Lake City, SCÂ
Bible Study: 667-770-1424 Access Code: 657944#
Greater St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in 1883 by Rev. Hill and twenty-five charter members. Early services were held in a member's house on E. Main Street. The congregation purchased a lot at the corner of Lake and N. Church Streets in 1885 and built its first sanctuary, a frame building, that year. That church was renovated and enlarged in 1917. It was further renovated, adding a steeple, between 1948-50.
In 1950 Rev. J.A. DeLaine (1898-1974) was transferred to Saint James from Pine Grove A.M.E Church in Summerton, South Carolina after playing a leading role in Briggs v. Elliott, the Clarendon County school desegregation case that led to Brown vs. Board of Education (1954). Unknown persons burned the church in October 1955. The congregation built a new sanctuary here, called Greater St. James A.M.E. Church, dedicated in 1957.
Rev. Dr. Richard W. Crummy, Servant Pastor, is the 7th of nine children of the late Willie Earl Crummy and Jannie Lee Crummy. He has been married for 43 years to the former Ms. Bonnie Francis Hawkins of Patrick S.C. They reside in Hartsville, SC. They are the parents of two children, the late Octavia Crummy, son Jerald W. Crummy, M. Div., and his wife Karen, along with their two children, Jerald W. Crummy, II, and Taylor Julia Crummy.
Rev. Crummy a graduate of Hartsville High School, Claflin University, Master of Divinity from Hood Theological Seminary, Salisbury, NC, and further graduate studies from George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, Dr. of Theology, Fisher Hill Community College, Cheraw, SC, November 2022. He is a 28 year retiree of the SC Department of Social Services. Sister Bonnie is a graduate of Morris College, Master of Divinity from Fisher Hill Community College, Cheraw, SC. June 2023. She is a 30 year retiree of the SC Department of Health and Human Services of Darlington County, SC.  Â
Rev. Crummy is a member of Centerville, AME Church in Hartsville, SC, Kingstree District, and Palmetto SC Annual Conference. He is a former member of the Northeast SC Annual Conference, Davis Temple Masonic Lodge, #481, Ashland Consistory, #246, and Theta Phil Lambda of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and SC State Employees Association.  He served as a member of the Northeast and Palmetto Conferences Board of Examiners, Judiciary Committee, Prison Ministry, Presiding Elder’s Salary, Finance Committee, Conference Trustee, Ministerial Efficiency Committees, and Youth Ministry. He was an alternate delegate to the AME Church General Conference in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2016.  He was a delegate to the AME Church General Conference in 2008 and 2012.  He presently serves on the Palmetto Annual Conference Boards Incorporation of church property, Disaster Committee and Presiding Elder’s Salary Committee.  Â
Rev. Crummy began his ministry on February 20, 1967. He was admitted to the Northeast Conference in October 1974 and received his itinerant deacons order in October 1977 under the leadership of the late Bishop D. Ward Nichols. He received his itinerant elder orders in October 1984 under the leadership of Bishop F. C. James.Â
Rev. Crummy began pastoring in November 1983 at New Hope AME Church Darlington, SC, Zion Hill AME Church Lakeview, SC 1984-1985, Zion Station AME Church Mullins, SC 1985-1989, and Bethel AME Church Dillon, SC 1989-1992 all churches were in the Old Dillon District, Bethel AME Church Britton’s Neck, SC 1992-2005, and Bethel AME Church Conway, SC 2005-2013 both churches in the Marion District all churches in the Northeast SC Annual Conference. He was the pastor of Greater Goodwill AME Church Mount Pleasant, SC 2013 until the 1st Sunday in November 2016 of the Mt. Pleasant District and he became the proud pastor of Historical Greater St. James AMEC Lake City, SC the 2nd Sunday, November 2016 to present of the Kingstree District, both churches in the Palmetto SC Annual Conference.
Rev. and Sister Crummy count it all joy that God has blessed them to be with the Historical Greater Saint James Church Family and the Lake City Community. They ask for your continued prayers.
Stay connected with our community! Check out the exciting events we have planned. From services to fellowship gatherings, there’s something for everyone. Don’t miss the chance to grow spiritually and make lasting connections.
