ERIC BRADY The Roanoke Times

Doug Carter (left), David Tanner and Paul Smith practice for the choir at West End United Methodist Church in Roanoke.

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Dot Briggs has attended West End United Methodist Church since 1923, when her parents sat with her on what was then called "the cradle aisle," an area designated for infants.

The church at 1221 W. Campbell Ave. S.W. was young then too, brimming with members who packed the pews at up to 250 strong on Sunday mornings. Everyone there was white.

Now, with the church's 100th anniversary approaching on April 27, Briggs, who has sung in the choir for five decades, sees a much-changed congregation. Attendance is usually between 50 and 60 at the 10:30 a.m. service, and whites are likely to be in the minority amid some fellow worshippers who have immigrated from Haiti, Sierra Leone and Vietnam.

"Most of the people who came here when I was young have died or moved away. Today, this church serves the needs of a different congregation," said Briggs. "I think this church's mission is as important as ever. This is our neighborhood. Many churches move from the city to suburbs when things change. But we're still here, and I think that's wonderful."

West End United Methodist has changed with its neighborhood. Although the Rev. David Tanner is white, he hired a black associate pastor, Lee Pusha, two years ago.

"I saw it as an opportunity to work in community outreach programs, particularly with youth," Pusha said.

And the church, which had long endured falling attendance among school-age members, has seen their numbers grow to 17 from 12 since Pusha arrived.

Not stunning growth, Tanner admits, "But we're a church that nearly had to close a few years ago. So any growth is exciting."

Among the projects that Pusha is helping develop are assistance with homework for children from low-income families, and he's planning a structured GED program for high school dropouts.

Tanner said the church hasn't any choice but to be aggressive in outreach efforts.

"We have to be relevant or close," he said. "There are too many churches for us to think we can just open our doors and people will come."

Sharon Williams started attending West End United Methodist as a child in 1963, when she lived in the neighborhood -- and then returned in 2002 after nearly 30 years of living and going to church elsewhere.

"The changes here are amazing," she said. "There's a saying that church is the most segregated hour in America, but that's not true here."

Paul Smith, a resident of Northwest Roanoke, likes the church's diversity and fellowship. He started attending West End six years ago after going to all-black churches.

"There's a feeling of family, of warmth," he said. "People don't go here for reasons of race. It's a mix; love brings them together."

• 1908: 23 Methodists meet in a private home to organize a church.
• First services: held on second floor of a grocery store located on 12th Street between Patterson and Rorer avenues.
• 1910: the original church building, now known as the chapel, is built on the east corner of Campbell Avenue and 13th Street.
• 1922: current sanctuary is built.

Source: West End United Methodist Church archives

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