Some are calling it a centennial, but it is more than that.

In truth, the congregation that grew into what is now Jarvis Memorial United Methodist Church began more than 200 years ago. But for 100 years, the church has stood on the same ground.

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Photos by Greg Eans/The Daily Reflector Jarvis Memorial United Methodist Church is celebrating 100 years in its Washington Street location. At top, one of the church's stained-glass windows.

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The Rev. Albert Shuler, pastor of Jarvis Memorial United Methodist Church, in the sanctuary at the church. Greg Eans The Daily Reflector

Jarvis, consecrated March 10, 1907, is among the oldest buildings in the city's downtown area. Historians trace the first meeting in the building to the same day in March 1907 that the North Carolina Legislature voted to approve East Carolina Teachers College.

Thomas Jordan Jarvis was instrumental in both. The former North Carolina governor, a Greenville attorney, co-authored the bill proposing a teachers' training school in Greenville and chaired the church building committee.

This week, the church named in his honor will celebrate a century of staying power, and those who call Jarvis their home say it shall not be moved.

"Every city needs the presence of a strong traditional church downtown," said Jim Carter, chairman of the building committee and a member of Jarvis for 35 years. "Many of the other churches that fit that category have moved to the suburbs. Jarvis said, 'We need to stay downtown to fulfill our mission.'"

Jarvis' commitment to downtown recently made headlines when the City Council agreed to reroute traffic to give the 225-year-old church room to grow. The deal, approved last month, gives the city more parking space and provides Jarvis with space for additional construction. It drew criticism from some historic preservationists and business owners, but those supporting Jarvis said the church's open doors were enough to justify closing streets.

The church is open seven days a week, housing everything from Alcoholics Anonymous meetings to Boy Scout troops. An after-school program the church started for children attending nearby Sadie Saulter Elementary School is being converted this fall into the newest unit of the Pitt County Boys and Girls Clubs.

"It's almost a revolving door," said Senior Pastor Albert Shuler, who came to Jarvis a little more than a year ago. "People are constantly in and out of here. Sometimes it's nothing more than a cool drink of water from our fountain. ... There have been many times when they've just come in and just asked for a pastor to pray with them.

"Those people who are constantly coming here, the first thing I ask them is, 'Why here?'" Shuler said. "(They say) because it's the church, and the church is supposed to help others."

Jarvis operates a food-collection program, Feed My Sheep, offers household repairs through The Shepherd's Helpers and provides crisis counseling through its Stephen Ministry Program.

"Almost every day, every hour there's somebody there," said Martha Ferrell, who chairs the church's administrative council. "We have a pantry of canned foods ... we offer food vouchers. Maybe a bill that has to be paid. I'm hardly ever there when there's not a person waiting for something."

While the church's location is accessible to some of the city's neediest residents, it can pose problems for its members. Nationwide, downtown churches struggle with challenges such as high cost and unavailability of property, scarcity of parking spaces and prevalence of crime.

Some years ago, Shuler said, Jarvis had an offer to relocate away from the city. Church leaders not only declined the offer but went on to commit more funds to downtown, adding the Taft Christian Life Center in 2000. Just last week, Jarvis officials traveled to Atlanta to meet with several churches that have fought the tide of churches leaving downtown.

"It would be much easier for us to go," Shuler said. "(But) I think for us to leave downtown, we will not be able to really celebrate who we are and what it means to live out the Gospel in the 21st century. The needs are no less; if anything, they're greater. ... We have been called to be a church in the risk-taking business."

The best testament to Jarvis' willingness to take chances may be Shuler himself. A former district superintendent within the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, he is the first black pastor in Jarvis' history. His 2,200-member congregation is predominantly white.

"It is always interesting to see the expression of people that I meet (when I say) that I'm the pastor of Jarvis," he said, laughing. "They say, 'You're the pastor of Jarvis?'

"Those who may have had or will have problems with the color of my skin, then that's their issue, not mine," Shuler said. "My purpose is to be there as their pastor, and, believe it or not, it has been wonderful. We have been very well received by some very special people."

Shuler's wife Jimmie, a pediatrician, completed her residency in Greenville, he said, making the appointment at Jarvis a homecoming of sorts.

Still, Ferrell, a member of Jarvis for 45 years, said the transition could not have been an easy one for her pastor.

"You know this had to be tough for him," she said "He had to have a lot of apprehension. I admire him for wanting to do it, for being willing to take that step.

"Most people have not batted an eye," she said. "He's our minister."

Shuler laughs when he tells the story of how a member of his congregation was asked about having him as a minister.

"Somebody said, 'So what's the difference? What has really been the difference of having this guy as your pastor?'" Shuler said. "And (this person) said, 'He's really easy to pick out in the fellowship hall.'"

Shuler said he wondered if some in the congregation, especially older members who grew up in a more segregated society, would accept him. He now counts longtime Jarvis members among his biggest supporters.

While Shuler calls 11 o'clock Sunday "the most segregated hour," he believes that is changing.

"I pray for the day that churches will become colorblind," he said. "We're slowly getting there."

He also prays for the day the church will position itself wherever there are people in need, whether it is in remote villages or downtown street corners.

"Our plans are to be here for that generation even unborn," he said. "... It is our hope that in the next 100 years, Jarvis will become even a stronger force in this community in living out the Acts 2 church in what it means to reach out to people who are hungry, who need shelter, who are lonely. ... We want to be that church."