On May 21, 2003, ground was broken for the rebuilding of Clair Memorial United Methodist Church that has approximately 140 parishioners.  A fire destroyed the church and parish house on April 10, 2001.  All that remained were the original brick walls, floor and steel structure. Architect Michael Campbell of Farmingdale, NJ, drew up the plans for the reconstruction of the church; some of the old structure will be used in the restored church, along with new architectural features such as stained glass panels in aluminum window frames.  Work on the building is progressing and a service was held at the yet to be completed site in July 2004.

After the 2001 fire, the board of trustees of Temple Beth-El, at the corner of Kennedy Boulevard and Harrison Avenue, invited the parishioners of Clair Memorial to hold their Easter service at the temple. This has led to a continuation of the practice as Clair Memorial holds its regular Sunday services in the temple's social hall.  In recognition of this cooperation, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) presented the two congregations with its 2001 Harmony Award "celebrating amicable relationships between whites and blacks"(Rinn).

The Clair Memorial United Methodist Church is recognized as the first church in Jersey City built by African Americans to found a black congregation. It was started in 1945 as result of the merger of two former Methodist churches, St. Mark's A.M.E. Church--originally known as the "African Church"--and Thirkield.  The former parish was started in 1920, and the church building, designed by architect Abraham Davis of Jersey City, was completed in 1927. A newspaper article identified the church as significant to the "city's working class, largely black Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood since it was built" (New York Times 11 April 2001)

References:

"Fire Destroys a Venerable Black Church in Jersey City." New York Times 11 April 2001.
"Foundation Built on Faith." Jersey Journal 22 May 2003.
Rinn, Miriam. "CORE Honors Jersey City's Temple Beth-El." Jewish Standard 24 August 2001.
Santora, Alexander M. "Legacies, New and Old." Jersey Journal 16 January 2003.
Wichert, William. "Rebirth." Jersey Journal 6 July 2004.