Allen Chapel to present awards at special service Sunday

[May 18, 2012]  The theme for a special service at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Allen Chapel AME Church is "Rebuild, Revive, Renovate." The public, interdenominational service is planned to thank community members who have given time, talent and treasures toward the renovation of the chapel.

Allen Chapel was named to the National Register of Historic Places in May 2004.

The Rev. Lillian Sullivan of Springfield is pastor of the local church, which is located at 910 Broadway. The congregation has met continuously since the church was founded in 1868. The current building was erected in 1880 and has been in use ever since.

The Rt. Rev. John Richard Bryant is presiding prelate senior bishop of the AME Church. The Rev. Gary McCants is presiding elder of the South District.

The Rev. Andrew Nyren of Immanuel Lutheran Church will give Sunday's message. The Sanctuary Choir of Lincoln Christian Church will lead the singing.

Awards will be presented to the Rev. Peggie Senor of Springfield; Kickapoo Cognizers Chapter of Questers International; the Logan County Board; John Sutton of Lincoln; Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County; The Courier; Odell Bonaparte of Lincoln; Ron Hall of Lincoln; Ron Keller of Lincoln; Margaret Peifer of Lincoln; Lincoln Public Library; the Abraham Lincoln Railsplitting Association; the Rev. Glenn Shelton of Second Baptist Church; and Nancy Saul of Lincoln.

Additional information about award winners:

• The Rev. Peggie Senor of Springfield, for her work in getting Allen Chapel named to the National Register of Historic Places during her tenure as pastor of Allen Chapel.

• Kickapoo Cognizers Chapter of Questers International for the original grant that started the renovation work.

• Logan County Board for the $800 grant to complete repointing work.

• Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County for assisting with publicity.

• John Sutton for repointing labor and research.

• Ron Hall of Hall Painting for furnishing painting, materials and labor for the wooden portions of the building.

• Ron Keller, curator of the Lincoln College Heritage Museum, for meeting space and other support.

• Margaret Peifer of Lincoln, for serving as treasurer of Friends of Allen Chapel and for other support.

• Lincoln Public Library for providing information for a display at the 2011 Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Festival and for providing space for the same display at the library during Black History Month.

• Logan Railsplitting Association for providing display space during the 2011 Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Festival.

• Lincoln Courier for providing outstanding publicity about Allen Chapel, above and beyond the standard news releases sent by the Friends of Allen Chapel.

• The Rev. Glenn Shelton, pastor of Lincoln Second Baptist Church, for his sense of quiet order that has been beneficial to the agencies and organizations that seek his counsel in the Lincoln community. Shelton has been a blessing to Allen Chapel in that he has worked with each new minister, giving support and resources to navigate the Lincoln community.

• Nancy Saul, for helping to bring together the various people and organizations that provide support for Allen Chapel.

[Text from file received from Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County]