The Historic Charles Street African Methodist Episcopal Church stands at 551 Warren Street in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, where it has been a center for Black religious and civic life for two hundred years. Sunday worship begins at 10:00 a.m., and the doors are open throughout the week for Bible study, community service, and the many gatherings that make up congregational life.
From a Beacon Hill House to a Roxbury Landmark
In 1818 a small group of African Americans began meeting for Christian worship in a house on Beacon Hill. That weekly gathering gave birth to what is now the Historic Charles Street African Methodist Episcopal Church. Over the centuries the congregation has remained a steady activist presence in the city, faithfully serving as a hub for Black religious and civic activity in Boston. The church describes its mission as equipping and empowering a body of Christian disciples for twenty-first-century evangelism, missions, youth development, education, and the active pursuit of justice.
Sunday Morning Worship at 10:00 a.m.
The Sunday service gathers the whole congregation at 10:00 a.m. and carries the hallmarks of the AME tradition: prophetic preaching, stirring scriptures, dramatic dancing, powerful prayer, fervent faith, moving testimonies, vibrant choirs, and groovy musicians. Visitors are welcomed, encouraged by the message, and inspired by the music. Children and youth are part of the rhythm of the morning through the Young People's Division, which serves elementary, middle, and high schoolers.
A Web of Congregational Ministries
Charles Street is home to a striking range of organizations that give shape to daily life at the church. The Caribbean International Ministry and the Church School extend hospitality and formation, while the SistaFaith group and the Sarah Gorham Women's Missionary Society gather women for fellowship and service. Men meet through the Richard Allen Brotherhood, and the Educators' Alliance connects teachers and school workers. The Curtis D. Wells Lay Organization anchors lay leadership, the Usher Board welcomes worshipers, and the Nurses' Unit provides a health-and-wellness presence. Witness flows through the Ministry of Evangelism, the Music Ministry, the FYRE Dance Ministry, and the Social Justice Action team.
Young Life at CSAME
The Ambassadors young adult ministry brings together men and women between the ages of 18 and 39, with honorary older members also welcome. Bible study at CSAME follows a published weekly schedule and is a touchstone for the whole congregation.
Feeding the Neighborhood
Charles Street's social mission reaches beyond its walls. The church operates Hamilton-Garrett Music and Arts, a community-rooted arts and music organization, and runs a food pantry open from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of each month. The Our Time & Space initiative adds another venue for community gathering.
A Pastoral Team That Knows the City
Rev. Dr. Gregory G. Groover, Sr., has pastored Charles Street AME since 1994. A graduate of Morehouse College, Union Theological Seminary, the Columbia University School of Social Work, and the New York Theological Seminary, his ministry has focused on the strategic development of faith-based educational initiatives by urban African American congregations. He is joined by Rev. Indira Alvarez, Associate Pastor, and his wife Rev. Barbara A. Groover, who serves as Minister to Women. The wider ministerial staff carries responsibility for Christian Education, Caregivers, Social Action, and Seniors, among other areas, and the pastoral offices are open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Giving and Staying in Touch
Online giving is available through Tithe.ly, and the church keeps an active presence on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). The church office can be reached at (617) 442-7770, with fax (617) 427-1215, and prayer requests are welcomed at any time.