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

Eph 5:15-17 (NIV)

The Lenten Season

As we learned in our Church School Teachers Meeting last month, Lent is not always about giving up something. It is about being intentional. It is a season of repentance and reflection. Often, people give up tangible things – things they can touch, i.e., overindulgence in food and alcohol, impulsive shopping, trips to the nail shop, coffee from Starbucks, binge-watching their favorite TV shows, playing video games, smoking cigarettes or vaping, gambling at the casino, or BINGO. I am sure that you can think of others. These are all things people feel that they can do without for 40 days and pick right up where they left off when the Lenten season ends. The result is, other than being a little inconvenienced for 40 days, there has been no inward change. Maybe, it is time for us to be more intentional during the Lenten season. Eph 5: 15-17 (NIV) says, “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Instead of giving up something that affects us physically, we should consider focusing on gaining something that enhances our spiritual well-being. For 40 days, we can devote more time to reading scriptures and being obedient to God’s word. We can also become a more loving husband or wife, a more devoted parent to our children, a more reliable employee, a more loyal friend, and a more dedicated teacher. These are all qualities that we can possess far beyond the Lenten season. By reflecting on our character and repenting, we should notice a change in our relationship with God as well as with our neighbor because we now have wisdom.

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.