Uncrowned Community Builders

Bishop Charles H. McCoy was a leader in the Church of God in Christ in Western New York. He was pastor of the Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ. Bishop McCoy was part of the WNY religious landscape for more than 70 years and was probably best known for building the C.H. McCoy Convention Center on Clinton Street.

He was a man of great faith who was not easily discouraged. He made church history during the Depression when he built the denomination's first new Church building at 13 Superior Street in Buffalo. His congregation included 5 women and 2 men. The congregation would outgrow the building. Bishop McCoy was the son of a Baptist minister, born in Sumter, South Carolina. He moved to Buffalo when he was 12 years old. When his father died he had to drop out of school to help support his family. He also worked at American Brass for over 30 years. He never missed a church service even when his health was failing.

Bishop McCoy was 91 years of age at the time of his death. He died on September 22, 1996 and is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery.