For more than 145 years Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church has been the central point for the Selma-to-Montgomery marches in the 1960s and a haven of hope to the community for generations.

The 19th century Romanesque Revival style architecture with historic stain-glass windows and mahogany woodwork has seen such guest speakers as then Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, former president Bill Clinton, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Rep. John Lewis (D-Georgia) and controversial Black Nationalist leader Malcolm X.

Brown kicked off its 145th anniversary in mid-February with guest speakers such as U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) and community activities such as partnering with Selma Mayor George Evans for the city’s summer youth job program and hosting the Boys’ Choir of Tallahassee. The celebration will end Aug. 27 and 28 with more guest speakers and a banquet.

Entering his third year as pastor, the Rev. Tony C. Scott, said this year Brown has made a difference.

“Our theme for this church was to really communicate with (the) community,” Scott said. “I don’t want it (Brown) to be just a historical symbol of freedom or a symbol of civil rights… in Brown Chapel you can find hope, healing and help.”

With love as his aim, Scott said he wants to make Brown Chapel just as prominent with locals as it is with tourists. The idea, Scott said, is to let everyone in the community know Brown loves them.

“Having arrived in the community, other churches had risen to be more relevant and we had a national relevance,” Scott said. “People from France, Ireland, Scotland or even North Carolina passed through wanting to see this ‘icon’ and its beauty. Many people in this community haven’t even been inside (the) church. I want to reconnect … reignite the love.”

A banquet will be held on Saturday, Aug. 27 at 6 p.m. inside the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center. Brown will hold a worship service Sunday, Aug. 28 at 11 a.m. Both events will include guest speakers the Rev. James E. Arnell, a candidate for bishop of the A.M.E. church, and director of Global Witness and Missions department for the A.M.E. Church Dr. George Flowers.

With many of Brown’s current members having suffered and lived through racial epithets and violence at the hands of local and state law enforcement and the Ku Klux Klan, members said this year’s celebration is different than ones in times past.

“We don’t do this every year,” said church anniversary event coordinator and chairperson L. Dale Bryant in a previous interview with the Times-Journal. “We celebrated our 125th anniversary and so this celebration is definitely important and significant.”

Due to the mobilized efforts of hundreds of Selma marchers to end disenfranchisement for blacks, former President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to give blacks the right to vote.

“The Voting Rights bill has opened so many doors from (the) federal to local level,” Scott said. “All churches were on one accord and the community was galvanized together. I want the church members of Brown Chapel to make an echo that the doors are still open and (we’re) alive and well after 145 years.”