Dedication of marker set July 12 at St. Augustine

Mayor Jay Williams will be among the speakers.

YOUNGSTOWN — An Ohio Historical Marker to commemorate St. Augustine Episcopal Church, 614 Parmelee Ave., will be dedicated at 11 a.m. July 12. This is the first black institution in the city to receive this honor.

Among featured guest speakers for the ceremony will be Mayor Jay Williams.

The Ohio Historical Marker will recognize St. Augustine Episcopal Chapel and its founder, Lenora Berry. In 1907, Lenora Berry, wife of Thomas D. Berry, saw a need for an Episcopal church began her mission to establish St. Augustine Episcopal Chapel, known as St. Augustine Episcopal Church. It is the only known church in Mahoning County that was chartered by a black woman.

Lenora Berry, with the support of a small group of black women, had a vision for an Episcopal church for the city’s black community. For the first two years of St. Augustine’s, the only members were women with the exception of Lenora Berry’s husband. For 11 years, church meetings were in the Berrys’ home and the homes of members. The charter members also were black women, who formed a building fund. The church bought property Feb. 22, 1918, on Parmelee Avenue. A small building that held 25 people was used for a chapel. In 1920, work started on the present edifice and was completed in 1921. The church was built by Charles Berry, the son of master builder P. Ross Berry and designed by the famous architect firm of Charles F. Owsley.

Administered by the Ohio Historical Society, the Historical Marker enables Ohioans to commemorate and celebrate local history and visitors learn about the Buckeye State. The historic markers are large cast-aluminum signs that tell stories about aspects of Ohio’s history.

The marker was funded by the congregation of St. Augustine Church. The research was done by Vincent Ajamu Shivers, president of the P. Ross Berry-George Washington Williams Historical Society.

The church celebrated its 100th year in 2007 with a special service and banquet.

For more information, call Antoinette Smith, senior warden at St. Augustine, (330) 519-3376.