Members of the AME Zion Church of Newburgh, the oldest African American church in the Mid-Hudson area, came together for the church’s 185th anniversary celebration on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.

A sign welcomes guests to the AME Zion Church of Newburgh's 185th anniversary on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. . Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.

Rev. Twila Rucker Caines hugs Rev. Daren Jaime at the AME Zion Church of Newburgh's 185th anniversary on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. . Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.

Rev. Daren Jaime offered the Keynote Address for the AME Zion Church of Newburgh's 185th anniversary on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. . Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.

Rev. Daren Jaime offered the Keynote Address for the AME Zion Church of Newburgh's 185th anniversary on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. . Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.

The AME Zion Church of Newburgh celebrated its 185th anniversary on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. . Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.

Linwood Rhodes, Jr. addresses those present for the AME Zion Church of Newburgh's 185th anniversary on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. . Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.

The AME Zion Church of Newburgh celebrated its 185th anniversary on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. . Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.

Sis. Sherrell Coppedge offers remarks at the AME Zion Church of Newburgh's 185th anniversary on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. . Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.

Bro. Elijah Beamon, Anniversary Committee Chairman, offers remarks at the AME Zion Church of Newburgh's 185th anniversary on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. . Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.

Warren Boyd offers remarks at the AME Zion Church of Newburgh's 185th anniversary on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. . Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.

Ebony James of Elect of God provided music for the AME Zion Church of Newburgh's 185th anniversary on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.

Bryant K. Richardson and the G-Camp provided music for the AME Zion Church of Newburgh's 185th anniversary on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.

Members of LFG provided music for the AME Zion Church of Newburgh's 185th anniversary on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.

Members of Elect of God provided music for the AME Zion Church of Newburgh's 185th anniversary on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.

A portrait of Rev. Joseph Thompson, who was appointed for his first term as pastor in 1847, was on display for the AME Zion Church of Newburgh's 185th anniversary on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. . Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.

Children were given the opportunity to address those gathered for the AME Zion Church of Newburgh's 185th anniversary on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. . Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.

Bro. Otis Dees addresses those gathered for the AME Zion Church of Newburgh's 185th anniversary on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. . Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.

Bro. George Caines offers remarks at the AME Zion Church of Newburgh's 185th anniversary on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. . Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.

Rev. Twila Rucker Caines offers remarks at the AME Zion Church of Newburgh's 185th anniversary on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. . Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.

The AME Zion Church of Newburgh celebrated its 185th anniversary on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. . Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.

The AME Zion Church of Newburgh celebrated its 185th anniversary on Saturday, June 2, 2012. at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.

Bryant K. Richardson and the G-Camp provided music for the AME Zion Church of Newburgh's 185th anniversary on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.

Members of the AME Zion Church of Newburgh Anniversary Committee, Elijah Beamon, Sherrell Coppedge, Merlyn Tyson, George Caines, Rev. Twila Rucker Caines, Otis Dees and Ron Cuttino, at the church’s 185th anniversary celebration on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery, NY. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.