Church History

The Church of God and Saints of Christ was founded and re-established in 1896 by William Saunders Crowdy, a Prophet of God.  William; an African American was born into slavery.  In the month of Elul (commonly called September), 1892 while hired as a cook for the Sante’ Fe Railroad, God began to speak to him in dreams.  Accepting the call from God, William; guided by the Holy Spirit, left his home and began preaching in the streets of Lawrence, Kansas, where thousands of souls were drawn to Christ.  During one of his dreams, the name of our great church; “The Church of God and Saints of Christ” was revealed.  William Saunders Crowdy was and remains today an esteemed Prophet, sent by God to the entire world; he was known as “The World’s Evangelist.”

In the year 1908, the Church of God and Saints of Christ; having been established in the United States of America, flourished with members of different races, ethnicities, and backgrounds.  Elders of the Church were commissioned to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and assigned to dedicated territories in the United States as well as South Africa and in latter years. branched off into the Caribbean beginning with the island of Jamaica.  The membership has continued to flourish in number and today has tabernacles in both Canada and England as well. 

On December 16, 1902, The Church of God and Saints of Christ was documented as the 667th religious organization in the Registry of churches in the United States of America, in the Library of Congress.  As preachers of Righteousness, we are still required to hold the Word of God; the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) and use it, "in season, and out of season" (2 Timothy 4:2). 

The demise of Prophet William Saunders Crowdy in 1908 served as a devastating occurrence which impacted the General Church body and placed a heavy toll upon the members as they were laden with grieving hearts and feelings of uncertainty regarding the future of the Church of God and Saints of Christ.  But we stand on the words written in the Holy Scriptures … “Upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”!

The natural remains of Prophet William S. Crowdy rests in Newark, New Jersey at Rose Street near Bergen and 18th Avenue, Woodlawn Cemetery … 

“Where do we go from here?” And so, our journey began…