This site started as purely informational, all notes starting from the 2008 Annual Conference were taken by the Delegates for Goodwin Memorial AME Zion Church. Since 2008, there are many contributors to this Blog. There is an ongoing history project. Click here, or on the Public History icon to visit the virtual exhibition Project of our historical content and their contributors. This is an ongoing project.
All credit of sermon text goes to those Pastors and participants of the New England Annual Conferences between 2008 to present. Additional contributors include Sis. Tracy Sutherland. All video and images taken by Brother. Kenneth Tolson Jr. (Goodwin Memorial Photographer) and sister JoAnn James, sister Adrianna Andrews, and Christina Scharbaai
History of the church:
In 1825 Rev. Erasmus Darwin Eldredge, Class of 1829 at Amherst College, was walking on the road to Pelham. East of East St. he saw a number of African American families. He asked if they would like to hold a service at one of their homes. They agreed, and a meeting was held at one of their houses on Sabbath afternoon. Out of this first meeting emerged two African American churches still practicing today. The meetings in the people’s homes became extremely crowded, and in 1861, with the help of some members of the college church, an independent church was formed on the Amherst College campus. The African American population continued to grow, and the congregation needed a new place of worship. In 1868 Amherst College gave permission for a new chapel to be built on the On , Zion Chapel was officially dedicated. In 1899 the African American congregation wanted to break away from the college’s white influence. From the beginning, services were conducted by the Amherst college students or professors. In 1905 the white population of the congregation was becoming less active. The African American population took the opportunity to ask for an independent parish of their own. In June 1907 the college church and community voted to allow the members of to unite to form and independent church. While this was happening, a split was occurring within the African American community itself. The main body of the congregation, with the authorization of the Congregational Society became known as Hope Congregational and continued to meet at Zion Chapel. Some members wanted total independence and a more traditional service like that in the South. This group started holding their services at the town hall and called themselves the Union Methodist Society. As time passed, this group grew and it decided to become affiliated with the national organization of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. In 1906 the Hasbeth sisters sold a piece of their land on Parsons St. (now Woodside Ave.) for $1,100 to Moses Goodwin, an important member of the congregation. The was laid on Sunday, July 10, 1910, by Reverend Alexander Walters, and this was when the A.M.E. Zion Church was officially . The Goodwin family was extremely active in the A.M.E. Zion Church. Moses Goodwin was on the building committee, and served as church treasurer. In 1967, in recognition of the Goodwin family’s overwhelming contributions to the church, its name was officially changed to Goodwin Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.
A Pictorial History of Goodwin Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
History Project:
Goodwin Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church 
I attended Goodwin while in Graduate School at UMASS during the period of 1997-2000. Rev. Ike (He passed away) and Rev. Lewis were pastors during that time period.
Well its always good to hear from a old member of the church, If your ever in the area we are still in the same location and always continuing to praise Gods name. Please come by and visit. Rev. Lewis is now Pastor in Maine, but he came down to give a wonderful sermon a few months ago.
God be praised. Happy to see the good work of Goodwin prospering. I remember fondly the many memories I shared and shaped at Goodwin. May HIS work continue….
Bro. T Hodge