The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church established a mission in Portland, Maine in 1891, after a number of the city’s African-American residents petitioned Bishop J. Robinson, who along with charter members, Moses Green, Ellen Odin, and others met in a hall on Temple Street. In the early years, the congregation moved to various halls on Preble, Free, Congress and Montfort Streets. But in 1907, on the urging of Reverend George F. Green, who said “There is no church society in this city that is at all interested in the spiritual uplift of our people, except it is the churches among ourselves.” Moses Green and the church trustees purchased a house lot at 95 Monument Street. Reverend William H. Lamar presided over the ground breaking ceremony for a new church building and in 1914; the edifice was completed and dedicated by Bishop Alexander Walters.
