Mt. A.M.E. Zion Church was founded by Dr. Jean B. Taylor, June 24, 1990. The A.M.E. Zion Church name was changed to Full Gospel Methodist Church and is presently known as the Mt. Calvary Church Ministries and Outreach, Inc.
Services were held at the Quality Inn Hotel on Tolland Rd.; Manchester; however, the services were moved into the city of Manchester in September 1990. Beginning in Jan. 1991 all services were held at the South United Methodist Church until approximately spring of 1991. During our stay at South United, because members of the Board of Trustee began to question, I was asked how much longer Mt. Calvary intended to be at South United. No one would lease us a place. Finally, I called ReMax Realty. The realtor, Rev. Ron Fournier was an Elder who was on Sabbatical said, “You need a sponsor,” and that God had sent me to him. He showed me a property located on 148 Forest Street, which was a warehouse in Cheney Mills. I signed a lease! The owner renovated the two large spacious rooms with a kitchen area, as well as a small office. The owner agreed that I could share a large storage room. Before moving into our new location, I was summons to a town hearing to explain why a Church should go into the leased building. The owner happened to be the brother-in-law of the Mayor of Manchester. The beginning of Mt. Calvary’s troubles! Several months after moving in, while transferring 2 briefcases (1 containing the offering) and a few other irreplaceable items from the Church to my car were stolen in a matter of minutes. At the time I didn’t know that the escape was up the driveway into a back entrance. No recovery or arrest!
Before signing a 2nd lease there was a 4 acre estate on Forest St. up for sale. A.M.E.Z. had me to bid $250,000. We had the highest bid, but, were blocked by letting the next highest bidder to get the property for a few dollars more, without coming back to me. The town was really buzzing about that black Church. Ron Fournier knew what had happened and showed me 163 Spruce St., in which 2 years later we bought.
Back to 148 Forest St.! One Sunday morning, upon arriving for Church School and Worship Service, our children came running to my office saying that there were awful words painted on the floor. The words: “Niggers S--k D--k” was painted on the floor in large white perfect lettering. I called the police and the F.B.I. The news media responded immediately, the Hartford Courant, the Journal Inquirer, Channel 2,4,8, and 61. The Manchester Conference of Churches responded and had a combined service at our Church making a statement to the community that we are unified. The Mayor did not respond! Remember, the owner of the property happened to be the brother-in-law of the Mayor. The very same weekend a swastika was painted on a Synagogue located in West Hartford and it was called a hate crime. The F.B.I. told me that Mt. Calvary did not suffer a hate crime. The agent said that because we did not lease the storage room, the owner could write whatever he wanted to write on his floor.
There was a suspect, who volunteered to take a lie detector test. This 22-year-old was mentally challenged and did not have the ability to paint perfectly as the perpetrators did. Someone got to him and obtained legal counsel which ended the questioning. What the detectives determined was that the suspect worked on the premises, had a key and let in his brother and another mischievous individual in. The 2 individuals had numerous bouts with the law. To make a long story short: Found at home, the suspect quote unquote “Committed suicide!” How can one put himself in a body bag and lock himself in. I was ordered by A.M.E. Zion to leave Forest Street immediately. While moving printed in small white lettering the letters “F. U.” was engraved into the sanctuary carpet. The owner Mr. Urbanetti tried to legally fight us for breaking the lease. We settled by paying 3 months of rent that was owed.
Right away, South United Methodist Church took us back in. The question as to our intentions began to come up. Rev. Ron Fournier was called! I looked at 163 Spruce Street again and bought it. Rev Ron set up everything and the sellers and their realtor didn’t know we were black and a Church until I showed up at the closing.
Mt. Calvary worked on and got a 501c3 on March 4, 1997. With the Town of Manchester, I filled out a required form for Tax Exemption; however, the town required us to pay property taxes. (see a billing in my documents). We had trouble paying several times and were threatened with deadlines and liens. I wrote check credit checks from my American Express and borrowed money to acquire the monies owed for taxes. My blood pressure had been a problem throughout these years because of the stress level to keep things current. I take maximum strength blood pressure medication. I am a type 2 diabetic and due to stress regulation had been difficult. At one time my Glucose A1C was 13.5. During approximately 1996, an inspection was ordered by 3 Town Chief officials, I was told that told we couldn’t have a Church in a residential house, unless we met the town building codes for a Church building. At that time, we were forbidden to hold services in the building due to building code violations. We then had Church services outside for 6 months (June - October). It began to get very cold in October; therefore, I called the Town Property Enforcement to discuss how we could comply. The Chief was not in; however, the Deputy was. He told me that no one was going to check and see if we were in the building, so have a nice day. We held service at 163 Spruce Street until December 10, 2003.
It was during 1997 the Church began a pilot Faith Based Initiative program in which we took men in from CT State Corrections who had minimal probation time left and other individuals who were seeking help. This program was to help the client get a jump start to a 2nd Chance. These individuals receive pastoral counseling, basic needs, room and board, job search assistance, etc. The Town of Manchester called for a meeting which took place on Dec. 10, 2003. Again 3 Town chief Officials met me and Rev. Joaquin Gonsalves at the Church. I was accused of running a boarding house and ran the risk of losing our tax exemption. I told the officers that I had been operating a Faith Base Initiative pilot program and that we didn’t have tax exemption. I was told that it had been granted in Dec. 2002. I stated that the Church was never notified. The conclusion as directed by the Town was that I could meet for counsel and maintenance.
After the meeting with Town Officials, we began holding Church services at the Y.M.C.A. which is located in East Hartford, even until this day.
We put the property on the market and decided not to sell, due to other plans for the property. I decided that the Church property would be used for Community Outreach. A Mt. Calvary Church Ministries and Outreach, Inc. Safe House was designed to give the Client a Jump Start to a 2nd Chance. A Business proposal that I had worked on since 1997 was ready and it was now time to implement the plan by seeking funding for this community program. I contacted several contractors for estimates and selected Simply Additions of Southington. Darius Kania of Simply Additions gave me a written estimate on 3/20/2007. He suggested that I go to the Town of Manchester and let them know what the Church wanted to do on the property. He drew up and forwarded on 4/10/2007, a written package for a Town meeting with me. After notifying the Town of plans for the Church property, Planning and Zoning said that I needed to come in for a meeting. More trouble for Mt. Calvary! During a brief period, Attorney Margaret Addo, who is a dear friend, assisted me in dealing with the Town. She and I attended the requested meeting together to discuss my intentions for the Church property. We were treated very unprofessionally, and the meeting was very negative and non-productive. She could fill you in on that experience. The Chief of Planning and Zoning kept leaving the room to speak on the phone. I believe he was speaking to the City Manager. Ps. 35: Confused!
After notifying the Town as to our plans for the property, the Church was sent a Criminal Housing Court Summons which listed various housing building code violations. Enclosures: See the letters of communication. After addressing some of the property issues, the Town came out and re-inspected and was satisfied. By the way, Mt. Calvary continues to hold Church services at the Y.M.C.A., East Hartford.
The Mt. Calvary Church Ministries and Outreach, Inc. has completed most of the requirements necessary that qualifies us to apply for Federal grant monies. Recommended by our grant writer, requests for letters of support were sent out to various Government and City Official, as well as Scott Shanley, Manchester City Manager. Mr. Shanley did not respond. Directed by my grant writer, Rev. Leonyer Richardson, I called the Planning and Zoning Director requesting a Block Grant Application. Here we go again with tactics from the Town! Mt. Calvary received a letter from the Town of Manchester Fire Marshall (see the enclosed request). Why are they requesting to inspect a Church building that’s not in use and a new Tax Exemption form to be filled out! Ridiculous!
By the way, during the period that we were at the Y.M.C.A., 163 Spruce St. was vandalized. Being that we weren’t occupying the building we didn’t notice the vandalism right away. Copper is very valuable and is sold on the streets. Perpetrators broke into the building and removed and stole all the copper plumbing from the basement. Our insurance covered the replacement of all plumbing. Once the plumber completed the job, he was not able to connect into the main city valve. Because there had been no water going through the main valve for quite some time; therefore, we needed a new connection to connect into the City of Manchester.
To make a long story short the estimate was $30,000. Knowing we could not afford the cost, the Lord spoke to me and said, “Wait and get the water included in the new future structure!” And He reminded me that we weren’t occupying the building anyway. When I shared the story about no running water with the grant writer, Rev. Richardson, she advised me to apply for a block grant.
Attorney Miller, the Lord said, “It’s time to face Manchester once and for all!” I’m ready to do battle in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ!
In His Service,
Dr. Jean B. Taylor, Senior Pastor