About St. James AME Church
(St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church)
A Look Back: St. James AME Church Opens Its Doors in Compton
After more than 30 years, the AME denomination made its long-awaited return to the City of Compton. The church’s new home at 601 W. Rosecrans Boulevard was secured in 2022, marking the beginning of an extensive renovation and restoration effort that has now brought new life to the historic site. It has taken a few years, but now the long-awaited renovations are finally complete — and St. James AME Church has proudly opened its doors to the Compton community.
In March 2025, Compton celebrated a momentous occasion with the grand opening of St. James AME Church, marking the first AME church to operate in the city in over three decades.
The historic event took place on Sunday, March 13, with the inaugural service led by Pastor Nicolette Birdsong, a proud Compton native who returned home to shepherd the new congregation. The service drew members of the local faith community, civic leaders, and distinguished guests, including Bishop Clement W. Fugh of the 5th Episcopal District AME Church.
Pastor Birdsong shared heartfelt reflections on her homecoming: “Although I haven’t been a resident of Compton for quite some time, I can honestly say I never left,” she said. “Since I was born and raised here, I have a large portion of my family who still reside in the city. Now that I’m a resident again, it feels good to be home.”
The opening of St. James AME Church represents not only a revival of faith presence in the city but also a renewed spirit of community, service, and fellowship. The church continues to be an important partner in local outreach efforts — including hosting the Compton Food Pantry and supporting the Compton Chamber of Commerce’s community service initiatives.
St. James AME Church and Compton Chamber Partnership
The Compton Food Pantry under the auspices of the Compton Chamber of Commerce has been serving the Compton community successively and without interruption since its inception in March 2020.
The Compton Food Pantry Finds a New Home
In late 2021, the Compton Chamber of Commerce began its search for a permanent home for the Compton Food Pantry, a program originally founded by the Chamber in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. That vision came to fruition in February 2022, when St. James AME Church, under the leadership of Pastor Nicolette Birdsong, graciously welcomed the pantry to its new home at 601 W. Rosecrans Boulevard.
Dr. Lestean Johnson, President of the Compton Chamber of Commerce, shared: “The Compton Chamber is elated to welcome Pastor Nicolette Birdsong back to her roots here in Compton to fulfill a twofold purpose. She is not only returning to strengthen the community through faith-based services and outreach — including the Compton Food Pantry project — but also to advance plans for affordable housing that will benefit the very community she was born and raised in. This is truly an exciting time for the City of Compton and for the many churches that will have the opportunity to be part of these transformative projects.”
Community Impact
Since then, the church has quickly become a vital hub for community service and outreach in Compton. In partnership with For the Love of Our Veterans and the Compton Chamber of Commerce, the St. James AME Church campus now serves as the official base of operations for the Compton Food Pantry — a thriving center of compassion, service, and unity.
Through this collaboration, volunteers, veterans, and community members work side by side to combat food insecurity and provide hope to those in need. Together, these partners uphold a shared mission of service, dignity, and empowerment, extending meaningful support to both veterans and local families throughout Compton. The Chamber remains fully committed to sustaining this vital program and serving the community for many years to come.
Hours of operation:
Delivery to seniors/disabled:
Thursdays 10 am – 3 pm
Must enroll to the program!
Community distribution:
Saturdays 12 pm – 3 pm
Church distribution:
Fourth Sundays 12 noon – 1 pm
Please contact the Compton Food Pantry at (310) 801-1490 if you have any questions regarding the program, to be added on the recipient list as a senior resident or a disabled individual, or apply to volunteer.
For the Love of Our Veterans Assumes Full Operation of the Pantry
Having repeatedly demonstrated exceptional leadership in serving meals and managing the sourcing and distribution of food donations throughout the Stand Down events, For the Love of Our Veterans has recently expanded its mission in support of the Compton Chamber by assuming full operation of the Compton Food Pantry, located at St. James AME Church (601 W. Rosecrans Avenue).
To learn more about the history/background of the Compton Food Pantry, please following links listed below:
https://www.comptonchamberofcommerce.org/compton-food-pantry
or
https://www.comptonchamberofcommerce.org/post/compton-food-pantry-background-history