Lane Tabernacle was organized in 1898 at Fourteenth and Poplar streets, Saint Louis Missouri. The first pastor name and tenure has been lost in the history book of time. It is recorded that Rev R P Tyler moved the congregation to Twenty Third and Pine streets. The Laity stands out early in history of this illustrious church. Such names as Lizzie McGifford, Nellie Williams, and Jeff Davis set the pattern for gallantry and a romanticism which have characterized the congregation since. The congregation moved again to Fairfax Street. Such movement seemed indicative of ever enlarging horizons. Established here, Lane Tabernacle became one of the prominent churches of the city, under the pastorate of the Rev. O.B. Heavelow and the watchful eye of Bishop Isaac Lane, for whom the church was named.  

They built the first unit. Then Rev. J.A. Winters added the Auditorium and markedly increased the congregation. This set the stage for the coming of one the great preachers in the history of Christian Methodism, the Rev I S Person.  

In 1914 the congregation had taken on the atmosphere of a metropolitan church, both in spirit and physical accommodation. The commission on location named Lane Tabernacle in St. Louis, Missouri for the 1914 session of the General Conference. Here were elected two bishops, R.A. Carter & N.C. Cleaves, both of revered memory. The Reverend Person continued in serviced until his death, which came while he was preaching in St. Luke C.M.E. Church in Champaign, Illinois. Rev. J.W.S. Lowe was assigned to finish the year and was reappointed for another year. 

The next pastor, the indefatigable and resourceful Rev. N.L. Smith, was destined to mark one of the great turning points in the history of the church. He led them in the movement from Fairfax to the present location, Newstead and Enright.  

Lane Tabernacle has the distinction for being the first Negro church to move west of Vanderventer. For such a time as this, it appears, N.L. Smith was called. He seemed to have been uniquely fitted for the role of socio-religious leadership. He met with the social tensions which were necessarily attendant upon their becoming the first Negro church to be located in a white neighborhood. Of course, he was indebted to predecessors whose significant labors undergirde him, a farsighted and courageous official board, and a willing constituency.  

The General Conference returned to Lane in 1922. Here four bishops were elected: J.C. Martin, J.W. McKinney and R.B. Brown. Rev. Smith was replaced by the dynamic, intellectual, and evangelical Rev. H.W. Evans, who came to Lane fresh from a significant achievement in Atlanta, Georgia, where he led the people of Butler Street C.M.E. in building. He served the church for six years, paid off the mortgage and initiated, with the backing of Lane church treasury, the purchase of Scruggs Memorial C.M.E. Church at Spring and Cook Avenues. He was followed by the Rev. Arthur W. Womack who gave two years of quiet leadership. Rev. Womack has the singular distinction of being the first pastor of Lane Tabernacle who was elected bishop 1950.  

There came after him the Rev. J.R. McClain who served during the lean years of the depression. A man of unusual spiritual calm himself, it was not difficult for him to cheer the drooping spirits of a constituency where many were impoverished by the impact of the great depression. The Rev Noah W. Clark came next. He brought to the congregation a new kind of dignity. He was known for his punctilious ways. He was immaculate in dress and almost faultless in public manners. He was a gifted preacher and had a large sense of mission. 

Then followed Rev W.J.G. McLin, an expansion minded pastor, an imminent pulpier and possessor of a leadership flare which attracted a large following and devoted friends. He left etched upon the minds of the congregation the need for expansion.

There came after him Rev Jasper M. Pettigrew who remained for ten years. Rev Pettigrew's' charisma, aptitude and adeptness to get along with varied personalities made many thing possible. His outstanding contribution, a direct fruition of his resourcefulness, was his leadership of the congregation in the purchase of lots, erection, and furnishing of the educational building.

In the fall of 1954 Rev Pettigrew gave way to the persuasive dream Rev Amos Ryce, II, who is distinguished for the longest tenure in the history of the pastorates of the church —twelve years. We are indebted to him for making his and our dreams materialize into one of the most beautiful and serviceable edifices in the city — a sanctuary conducive to true worship, and an expanded educational building well equipped and modernized. Rev Ryce and his many achievements will be remembered by the congregation and throughout the City of St .Louis.

In 1962 the General Conference in its Twenty-fourth quadrennial session retuned to Lane Tabernacle. Three C.M.E. pastors were elevated to the bishopric: Rev. Norris Samuel Curry, Rev Walter Hansel Amos and Rev Henry Clay Burton. Cont.