On the coast of Ghana stands a centuries-old tree. Rooted in both sandy and fertile soil, it has endured the rise and fall of empires, the transatlantic slave trade, and the weight of colonialism. Yet it endures, its roots reaching far beneath the sand to draw life and nourishment from deep within the earth.
The Rt. Rev. Michael B. Curry, 27th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, invoked this vivid imagery during his sermon for Saint Ambrose Episcopal Church’s anniversary service on Sunday, October 18, 2026. The celebration honored two historic milestones: 60 years at its Darby Street location and 158 years of continuous ministry in Raleigh.
Drawing on the prophet Jeremiah, Bishop Curry recalled the biblical promise that those who trust in God are like trees planted by water–rooted so deeply that they bear fruit even through seasons of drought. Enslaved African ancestors, he noted, claimed this divine promise when they sang the spiritual, “I shall not be moved.”
Yet, Bishop Curry emphasized, going deep demands more than mere endurance. Recalling a visit to Ghana’s Cape Coast Castle, he described the haunting contrast of enslaved Africans crying out in dungeons below while Christians worshiped in an Anglican chapel directly above them. Returning to the image of the tree, he likened American history to layers of mixed soil–a complex landscape where liberty coexists with the deep legacy of enslavement and ongoing racial injustice, and where the promise of liberty “for all” collides with the mistreatment of immigrants and marginalized communities. For believers, to “go deep” means courageously confronting this history without abandoning hope or the mandate for justice.
“We must reclaim our roots,” Bishop Curry urged.
The history of St. Ambrose stands as a living testament to that call.
Founded in 1868 to nurture the spiritual, educational, and social lives of newly emancipated Black Raleighites. In 1896, at a time when schooling for Black children was severely restricted, the parish established its own school. In 1900, after being dispossessed of its original property, parishioners demonstrated extraordinary resilience by physically rolling their wooden church building a mile through Raleigh to a new location. Decades later, in 1965, the congregation established its current home at 813 Darby Street.
Across generations, St. Ambrose has consistently translated its worship into wisdom and work. The church’s witness encompasses advocacy for local educational equity, grassroots organizing against environmental racism in the Walnut Creek Wetland, and vital ministries addressing hunger, addiction, and mental health. This action is rooted in a rich liturgical tradition that honors African American sacred expression—from pioneering the inclusion of spirituals, jazz, and rap in the Holy Eucharist to integrating diverse cultural arts. The anniversary service highlighted this legacy, as the St. Ambrose Choir joined forces with the North Carolina Central University (NCCU) Jazz Ensemble to perform compositions by Mary Lou Williams, who composed the first Jazz Mass in the 1960s.
Bp. Curry dedicated and blessed Ethiopian inspired altar and clergy vestments, including the new valance, dossel veil, and kneeler in the chapel. The Rev. Jemonde Taylor joined the St. Ambrose musicians and the NCCU trio to play Autumn Leaves on his trumpet.
Reflecting on Jesus’ greatest commandments — to love God, to love one’s neighbor, and to love oneself as a child of God — Bishop Curry emphasized that embodying this love requires far more than passive survival. It demands that believers continually affirm human dignity, resist despair, and step forward boldly into the world.
He concluded his sermon with the following invocation to the congregation:
“Go deep, St. Ambrose.
Deep in the days ahead.
Deep in days when hope unborn has not been born.
Deep when you wish you could hope again.
Deep regardless of what this world throws at you.”
His words inspire the St. Ambrose community to draw deeply from God, from faith, and from the legacy of our ancestors. To go deep is to remain anchored in God, gain wisdom from history, and press forward in the vital work of justice, compassion, and healing.
The anniversary celebration would not have been possible without the work and ministry of the planning committee: Mrs. Edna Rich-Ballentine; Mrs. Emily Cadogan; Mr. Douglas Fulford, Jr.; and Dr. Gwendolyn Chunn (deceased). The church is grateful for your ministry.
The journey continues — grounded in history, anchored in love, and committed to the road ahead.
Watch the 158th Anniversary Worship Service
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