Siloam Presbyterian Church

The Pastors of Siloam · 1886–1892

W. H. Dickerson

A noted preacher who led Siloam from 1886 to 1892, as the congregation took down its old Prince Street church to rebuild.

Pastor (stated supply 1886–1887, installed 1887–1892)

At Siloam

Dickerson came to Siloam in 1886. In June the New York Freeman welcomed the news, praising him as a thorough scholar and a gifted pulpit orator. In August 1886 the church held an excursion up the Hudson River to Excelsior Grove. A rifle tournament raised money for the church, and the pastor won the second medal. The Freeman called it the church's largest and most profitable excursion in many years. He served first as stated supply and was installed as pastor in 1887.

In October 1888 he began a sermon series at Siloam called "Politics as Seen Through Bible Spectacles," on the church's place in that year's campaign and the duties of voters. In June 1891 the Brooklyn Literary Union held its closing meeting of the season at Siloam. He was a candidate for the Union's presidency but withdrew. In July 1891 he was named to the executive committee of the new Negro Monument Association of Brooklyn, formed to raise a monument to Black soldiers and sailors of the Civil War.

In June 1891 a farewell concert was held in the old Prince Street church, the last before it was taken down to be rebuilt, and it added to the building fund. In February 1892 Dickerson resigned, and his pastorate ended on May 1. The Brooklyn Citizen, reprinted in the New York Age, said he was respected by the city's clergy.

Life and ministry

Records of his early life have not been found. The newspapers of his day give his name as William H. Dickerson.

Family

The New York Freeman described him in 1886 as a nephew of the late Bishop William Fisher Dickerson of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The bishop, a native of Woodbury, New Jersey, and a graduate of Lincoln University, was elected bishop in 1880 and died in 1884.

Sources (8)
  1. Siloam Presbyterian Church, "Our History," the church's earlier website (2026)
  2. The New York Freeman, June 5, 1886, p. 2, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, 1886
  3. The New York Freeman, August 7, 1886, p. 3, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, 1886
  4. The New York Age, October 13, 1888, p. 3, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, 1888
  5. The New York Age, June 20, 1891, p. 1 ("Rev. Mr. Dickerson Withdrew"; "A Farewell Concert"), Chronicling America, Library of Congress, 1891
  6. "A Monument Association," The New York Age, July 18, 1891, p. 1, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, 1891
  7. "Pastor Dickerson's Resignation" (from the Brooklyn Citizen), The New York Age, February 13, 1892, p. 2, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, 1892
  8. "William Fisher Dickerson, 13th Bishop," Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church, n.d.