BRIEF HISTORY: NAZARENES in Chicago (1890 – Present Day)

Mother Mattie L. Thornton – Branch
Rev. James Wesley Hinant was ordained to preach in Method, N.C., July 1 1890. A set of twins were born, whom he and his wife named Laney and Chaney. Two years later, Rev. Hinant’s wife passed. A year later, one of his twins fell asleep, Chaney. Rev. Hinant began to travel, preaching, losing two more of his children, leaving two girls to share his difficulties. Later he changed the name of the one living twin from Laney to Lena. Rev. Hinant in 1897 left the south and settled in Philadelphia, PA. He began to seek more of the LORD. Studying the scriptures and much prayer, he found in Hebrews 12:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8; Isaiah 35:8, that the LORD made him to know the TEN COMMANDMENTS are right. Rev. Hinant began to read Exodus 20 and this made him to know that the Commandments, which GOD wrote with his own finger (Exodus 31:18, KJV). Rev. Hinant continued to keep the Faith and travel. Returning to New York, he held meetings in his home, which became too small. Later he rented a storefront. He incorporated the church under the name of Church of God.Later his daughter Carrie married one of the members of the church, Brother Jona Sturdevant. Brother Sturdevant was a real son-in-law, and this little group did most of the singing. After their street meetings, the crowd would follow them back to their mission.
it soon filled up – so, they had street meetings. The police stopped the meetings because the people blocked traffic, and some complained of noise. They had taken up enough collection to rent the furnished basement apartment, and to buy food. Instead of buying food for themselves, they rented a tent, a man (a supervisor of the aforesaid tent company) gave them one (1) for two (2) weeks and sent men to set it up. The tent held three hundred (300) individuals, there was always a large crowd both black and white. Souls were saved each night. Meetings were held so late that the people who lived near complained, saying that 11:00pm was too late to hold meetings. One night the patrol wagon came and carried them all to jail. While the desk sergeant was taking their names, a white brother came and paid their bonds. The next night they had a larger crowd. When their two (2) weeks were up, the people hated to see them go. On their way to Cleveland, Ohio, the man (of whom was in the tent business) gave them a larger tent. People followed them from Buffalo, NY. Many people were healed and many, many souls were saved. After two (2) weeks in Cleveland, Ohio they travelled to Chicago, Illinois, there they held their first meeting at 26th and State Street, later meetings were held near the Stock Yards. A tent was purchased and put up at 25th and Wabash. These souls had many heartaches and disappointments, but came through with fasting and prayer, and by letting the Holy Ghost lead them. To God be the glory! Many souls were Saved, Holy Ghost Filled, healed and delivered. Many souls were added to the church in just 5 years (1908-1913) with 6900 Souls noted as “having been confirmed under her hand” (according to the Broad Ax Newspaper Apr 1913. Print) – with more added as the ministry continued. This is only a brief history of the Nazarene Doctrine. The Holy Ghost gave Mother [Bishop] Mattie L. Thornton Branch as she asked, what to name her church; “Holy Nazarene Church”. The aforementioned was provided by Sister Lena Clayborn (see photo below) and literary document references by Bishop Steven. K. Butler, Sr. Sister Lena (Rev. Hinant’s daughter), of whom later married Brother Clayborn, and this is the anointed Sis. Lena Clayborn.
Sis. Lena Claybourn, one of the women working with Founder, Mother Mattie L. Thornton Branch
In the year of 1908 A.D., a group of women (eight (8)) came to Chicago from New York City, being led by Mother Mattie L. Thornton Branch. These were Evangelist Hay Craft, Sister Lena Clayborn, Sister Brown, Sister Lula E. Bynum, Sister M. Johnson, Sister Susie Lightfoot, Sister McDowell and Sister Bula Miles. Due to many obstacles they pitched tents in various parts of the city. On July 23rd of that same year, at 3:00pm in a tent on the corner of Wabash and 26th street, the eight women, with Mother [Bishop] Mattie L. Thornton Branch as the lead, began a three (3) week Evangelistic Campaign in which many souls were added daily to the Church. On Coming, they were converted, sanctified, and baptized with the Holy Ghost, and with water as evidence of their faith, then confirmed by the Elders of the Church and members of the Holy Nazarene Tabernacle.
In 1920 Brother Hughlet M. Hooper (photo below, left) visited the church for the first time. In 1922 he received the Holy Ghost, and in 1931 he was made Bishop. Sister Ella Hunter (see photo) was saved in 1925 under Mother Mattie L. Thornton Branch. Mother Effie Bell (see photo below) was a great person and Nazarene Church at 31st and LaSalle Street, in Mother Hunter’s home. Later they moved to 101 East 31st Street. From there they moved to 34th and Michigan Avenue. Souls were saved and the sick were healed. Sister Mary Carter Jenkins was saved and filled with the Holy Ghost under their leadership. She was ordained an Evangelist in 1935 by Bishop Hughlet Hooper.


Bishop Hughlet Hooper comforting the Mother of slain 14 year old Emmett Louis Till (left, to her right), 1955 – Burr Oak Cemetery, Worth Township, IL.
to grace. Elder McCray, Bishop Bell and others carried on the work. Mother Ella Hunter passed away in 1941.Later on, the building at 29th and Dearborn was purchased by the City of Chicago. The group bought another building at 42nd and Cottage Grove Avenue. Elder E. Spaulding was the pastor.
In the year of 1957 thru fasting and prayer the Lord moved on Deacon Aaron Hicks, Mother Pallis Hicks, Rev. Willie S. Lawhorn and Supt. Cardelia Lawhorn to try to build a new Nazarene Church for the Lord. Deacon Aaron Hicks said the Lord led him to an old woman and he presumed it was Mother Effie Bell, He told her what the Lord said to him, and laid the plans out before her, she said the Lord had told her He was going to send her a people. With the Aid of others she set up the body at 7351 South Princeton Avenue. Bishop Bell worked with Rev. Willie Lawhorn and Minister Aaron Hicks (as he was ordained Minister at a later time). The Lord blessed them to build a new church from the ground up at 7055 South Carpenter Street, Holy Nazarene Tabernacle. Bishop Bell also set up church in Morgan Park, Branch Memorial Nazarene Church. This Church was pastored by Elder Clyde Towns. Bishop Bell passed away in 1977.
In December of 1961, Sister Jean Townes (of whom would later be installed as Overseer of Nazarene Tabernacle, A.F.) was saved under the leadership of Elder Rufus Sanders, at the Ingleside Church of Nazarene. At that time, there was a faithful Chairman of the Deacon Board: Deacon Aaron Hicks. The leading of the Holy Ghost moved upon Deacon Hicks with the prayers of the Saints. Later Pastor Aaron Hicks and Mother Palis Hicks organized, through the spirit of God, Holy Nazarene Tabernacle, A.F. on Princeton Ave., in Chicago, IL, first (1st) floor. Sister Jean Townes and her family lived on the second (2nd) Floor. Well, the sounds of joy and praise drew Sister Jean Townes to one (1) of the church meetings wherein she rejoiced, in the Holy Ghost – speaking in tongues as the spirit gave her utterance.
Bro. Emile Jones joined Beacon Holy Nazarene Church (under theleadership of Overseer Mary C. Jenkins), in 1973. Immediately afterbecoming saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost, OverseerMary C. Jenkins set him in the body, as Deacon Emile Jones. Hestudied the Word of God and believed Jesus is a NAZARENE. On onePentecost Day, June 6th, he petitioned Overseer Jenkins and the Saints to pray because he felt he was called to a greater work.He aspired to be a Minister. Overseer Jenkins, Pastor Steven K. Butler, Sr., Minister Banks and Elders, Teachers and Evangelists prayed as Overseer Jenkins laid hands on Deacon Jones. The Holy Ghost gave the answer through Overseer Jenkins. Deacon Jones continued to work with Beacon Holy Nazarene Church under the leadership of Overseer Jenkins. In 1989, Deacon Emile Jones was ordained Evangelist. On January 6, 1990, he established and chartered Holy Nazarene Temple Church on 7102 South Racine Ave., in Chicago, IL, he was set in the body as Pastor.
In 2000, New Freedom Out-Reach Ministries and Holy Nazarene Temple soon began worshipping together, at the health of Evangelist Emile O. Jones, along with the church site being compromised by a car accident into the edifice. In the year 2000, the two ministries, both seeds of Beacon Holy Nazarene Church merged under New Freedom Out-Reach Ministries, and have grown stronger and stronger since. In 2002, the Jones family moved their worship into their home located in Merrillville, IN.
In 1958, Sister Eleanor Banks was saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost, at a little prayer meeting. For she testifies, “I was 27 years old. I will never forget the day. Everything looked different. The power of God delivered me. It felt like electricity came down through my body. That is when the old me left and the new me came in. I had never had that experience before in my life. You see a lot of people that have been around the Saints of God learn to imitate them, but I had never been around such, I couldn’t imitate. I began to seek God for further guidance. He led me to the Nazarenes.”

