Drury preservation of historic AME church nearly complete

From the wooden altar rail to the curved pews, the sanctuary of a historic church on the Drury University campus looks much the way it did a century ago. But the roof, lower level and wiring behind the walls have all been modernized.

The private institution has entered the final stages of renovating the Benton Avenue Educational Center, preserving a former African Methodist Episcopal church for future student and community use.

If the schedule remains on track, a soft opening is expected in May with a formal dedication to follow, likely in August. 

“We’ll do a behind-the-scenes tour for community members who are very passionate about the project, so they can see it,” said Drury President Jeff Frederick, during an April 16 tour. “But we will probably not do a formal thing until our students are back in the fall.”

The church founded in 1867 started in a wooden structure. A cornerstone was set in 1922 and the current building opened in 1926. The church was listed on the National Register of Historic places for its cultural significance and architectural design.

Shuttered in 2014, Drury acquired the property and researched the history of the church – and its role in Springfield and links to the Civil Rights Movement – before formulating a plan. It was a hub in a once-thriving Black community and briefly pastored by the Rev. Oliver Brown, the namesake plaintiff in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education.

The blueprint that emerged was to preserve the brick exterior, sanctuary, and front stairs and transform the lower level, formerly a kitchen and fellowship hall, into exhibition space and educational purposes. 

“This would be a public history space,” Frederick said in the lower level. “There would probably be some permanent exhibits, like one for Oliver Brown, but the rest of them would rotate depending on what was topical at the time.”

Frederick said the university is working with local historian Lyle Foster and others on a display about Route 66 and the Green Book, a guide to help Black travelers find safe places to eat and sleep during the era of racial segregation.

Drury’s original budget was $3 million, a mix of private donations and funding from the state, Greene County and the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

He said the university wrestled with how to honor the original intent of the 2,400-square-foot building and add amenities, like fiber optic cables and track lighting for the exhibits. The work is being done by Kenmar Construction Inc.

The project, designed by architect John Oke-Thomas and launched in late 2024, included upgrading restrooms, windows, and internal systems. Safety features have been added and building accessibility was improved.

A concrete ramp was added to the front and a chair lift will be installed for individuals who are unable to climb stairs. However, adding an elevator was not in the budget.

Aaron Jones, executive vice president and chief operating officer, said the design calls for an elevator to eventually be added to the southeast corner of the building. He said building it as an addition preserves the “usable space” inside.

“We’ve had some additional donations and we’ll be evaluating what next steps there might be,” he said.

Alex Riddle, executive director of facilities, said the floors in the lower level and the sanctuary – original hardwood covered with tile – were replaced.

“When we were pulling up those tiles, it became apparent that we could not salvage the floor,” he said. “We tried to get as close as we could with something that would be durable but beautiful.”

Benton Avenue is the third historic church on the Drury campus, which is also home to Stone Chapel and the former Washington Avenue Baptist Church.

Drury partners with Springfield Public Schools to provide the Black History Summer Academy and the university envisions opening Benton Avenue for student tours and campus events. 

Asked if the center will be available for the public to rent, Frederick said details are being discussed about the best way to make the space available to others.

“Drury is supposed to be a placemaking spot. I want as many community members as possible to be on our campus,” Frederick said.