The Historic St. Peter Church

St. Peter A.M.E. Church has existed in New Orleans for more than 175 years.

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REVITALIZATION CAMPAIGN

By investing in the restoration and revitalization of St. Peter AME Church, you are not only preserving a historic landmark but also empowering a community of faith to thrive and make a lasting impact.

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1201 Cadiz Street

A.M.E.

St. Peter Church is a National Historic Landmark

St. Peter A.M.E. Church has existed in New Orleans for more than one hundred and forty-five years. It celebrated the one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary of its history in 1991. On March 21, 1979, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

the oldest surviving church in the community

Church Service

Sunday at 11am

Revitalization Donation

Empower the Future

Tithe Online

Leviticus 27:30

To the Scripture

1 Peter 4:8 NLT

God’s Love Covers Our Sins

This is not to say that love overlooks sin, but it seeks to forgive the sinner and focuses on restoring broken relationships. As disciples of Christ, we should mimic the forgiving nature of God. Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Have you ever noticed how some people wear their hurt like a badge of honor? They are always talking about how so and so abused them or misused them or how they loaned something to someone, and that person never returned it. Sometimes, one person cannot stand to be in the same room with another individual because the mere sight of that person conjures up feelings of hate and bitterness. They just cannot seem to let go. There is just so much resentment. What if God had such resentment for us that he ignored our petitions and withheld his grace? We would be held accountable for every one of our sins. Instead, God’s son had such deep love for us that he was willing to die for our sins. There is no greater love. Therefore, we who profess to be disciples of Jesus Christ should have deep love and forgiveness for one another, focusing on mending fences and building bridges that bring us closer together rather than farther apart. We should be willing to extend grace to those who have offended us just as Christ does for us every single day. His love covers a multitude of sins, and we should be forever grateful.

By Jacqueline C. Winston

Reverend Marques D. Smith

Reverend Marques D. Smith is a lifelong devoted member of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church with a rich history of service across multiple districts. Born in the 4th District, baptized in the 9th, and reared in the 8th, Rev. Smith has deep roots in the connectional church.

He currently serves as the Pastor of both Cummings-Wilson AME and Historic St. Peter-AME churches. Appointed in November 2025, Rev. Smith is dedicated to guiding these two historic congregations toward a unified future of Christian love and community impact.

A committed theologian, Rev. Smith holds an Associate degree in Religion from River Parish Community College and a Bachelor’s in Humanities and Religion from Franciscan University (formerly Our Lady of the Lake College). He is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Turner Theological Seminary. His pastoral journey began in his teenage years when he accepted his call to preach. He was later ordained an Itinerant Deacon by Bishop Carolyn Tyler-Guidry and an Itinerant Elder by Bishop Julius Harrison McAllister, Sr.

Rev. Smith’s leadership extends beyond the pulpit. He serves as the 8th District Protocol Chair and is an active member of the Social Action and Christian Education committees. Previously, he pastored Bethel-St. Francisville and Venerable Chapel-Greensburg, and served as a supply pastor for Trinity-Gonzales and St. Stephen-Kenner.

Guided by 1 Corinthians 12:4, “There are a diversity of gifts, but the same spirit,” Rev. Smith believes that every believer possesses a God-given gift for the Kingdom, and his ministry focuses on making room for those gifts to flourish. He is happily married to Sis. Tanya (Wilson) Smith, and they are the proud parents of an adult daughter, Twila.

Night Out Against Crime

Lay Witness

Donations

Why Your Donation Matters:

Your generous contribution will directly support the realization of this vision. By investing in the restoration and revitalization of St. Peter AME Church, you are not only preserving a historic landmark but also empowering a community of faith to thrive and make a lasting impact.

Parsonage Restoration

Transforming the parsonage next door into a rental property to generate income that will support the church's community programs and outreach efforts.