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

Isaiah 43:18-19

God Is Doing a New Thing

If God is willing to let the past remain in the past, why is it that we keep drudging up old grudges, old failures, old relationships, old disappointments, old mistakes, resentments, or things that were embarrassing. Drudging up means to recall something from the past that is usually unpleasant, focusing on discomfort. God is telling us not to dwell on the past. To dwell on something means to focus on it for a considerable amount of time. Drudging up stuff from the past uses a tremendous amount of mental energy that could otherwise be used to focus on the future. In Isaiah 43:19, God said that he was doing a new thing. He was directing this message to the children of Israel that were in exile. They felt that they were in a hopeless situation. God was assuring them that all was not lost. That message still applies to us today. It is a message of hopefulness, reminding believers that God can create new opportunities for us as well and that our minds should be open to his new ideas. In the new year, God can bring about new beginnings, even in the midst of what appears to be an impossible situation. So, plan to make a fresh start in the new year. Trust God to turn your mourning into dancing and to restore your joy.

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.