The original structure of the Staunton Street Apostolic Church at 350 Staunton Street was erected in 1925. The late Rev. W. H. Forbush was the founder and first pastor. At that time the church consisted only of the sanctuary and an upstairs parsonage.

Rev. Greene Kitchen assumed his duties as pastor in 1950 after serving one year as assistant pastor. At that time the average Sunday school attendance was 25. After assuming his duties as pastor, Rev. Kitchen immediately began forty years of proving to the people that "faith without works is dead". Additional Sunday school rooms were added to the rear of the old sanctuary. Next, a $30,000 remodeling program in 1957 brought about a completely renovated sanctuary with modern utilities, and additional seating space. Immediately plans were formulated for the addition of a youth auditorium. It was completed in 1963. A continued increase in attendance made it necessary to purchase a home across the street from the original sanctuary. This was converted into a beginners department housing several classes. To alleviate the parking problem, the church purchased a large lot near the church.

Because it was becoming increasingly difficult to comfortably seat the congregation on Sunday nights, Rev. Kitchen asked the congregation to pray to God concerning a particular problem. He did not specify the problem. Nevertheless, God answered prayer. A way was made to purchase a home and lot adjacent to the church for the erection of a new sanctuary. The record attendance was now 695.

The ground breaking took place in April 1966. In May 1967, the first services were held in the new sanctuary, often referred to as the "Cedar Sanctuary" for its beautiful use of cedar in the interior. The East Central District of the United Pentecostal Church held the spring conference in the new sanctuary. Continued growth resulted in a 20 classroom educational building constructed in 1984 adjacent to the Cedar Sanctuary.

In 1985 a facility consisting of a modern kitchen, a gymnasium, guest quarters, and a large meeting room was erected. The facility named "The Greene Kitchen Activity Building" was finished debt free as a result of Rev. Kitchen's stewardship of church investments. The constant growth over the years occurred while Rev. Kitchen was involved in numerous other activities, i.e. co-authoring the textbook Power in the Sunday School with Bro. James Douglas, the purchase of land and construction of a new church camp for the district, and numerous administrative duties as superintendent of the West Virginia District of the UPC International.

In August 1985, Rev. Harper, his wife Sharon, and their three daughters: Danielle, Heather and Holly left a large Pentecostal church in Morgantown, West Virginia, to join the staff at the Staunton Street Church. Rev. Harper, as Co-Pastor, immediately instituted new programs such as "Enroll to Grow", teacher training seminars, tours of the West Virginia Capital by upper class Sunday School students, men's prayer breakfasts, and revived Bible Quizzing. One of the new services was called "God and Country," usually held on the 4th day of July weekend. Many elected officials and political candidates have attended these services including Governor Gaston Caperton, Congressman Bob Wise, Nick Joe Rahall, and Senator Robert Byrd. Mayor Nelson of Huntington has said that Staunton Street is the most exciting street in town because of its construction programs and community involvement in taking the Gospel to the community.

In the Fall of 1988, a great revival swept the church. Pastor Harper preached 60 sermons in 8 1/2 weeks and Bro. Kitchen baptized 309 souls in the name of Jesus Christ. The Cedar Sanctuary was too small to hold the crowds, so the Greene Kitchen Activity Building gymnasium was turned in to a sanctuary and services were conducted there until the construction of the Apostolic Life Cathedral. Over 900 people attended the "ground breaking" of the cathedral, including Governor Gaston Caperton and other church and civic leaders. Construction took one year and 17 days from the digging of the footers to the first service. The cost of the 2.3 million dollar edifice was approximately $900,000. Both men and women donated over 100,000 volunteer hours and equipment to drastically reduce the cost to the congregation. Pastor Harper's skill in construction and building oversight resulted in one of the most beautiful churches in the tri-state metropolitan area.

In January 1989, Pastor Kitchen announced his retirement to be effective April 30, 1989. He continued as Pastor Emeritus to teach an Adult Bible Class, to conduct services, and to preach occasionally until his passing in April, 1994. He was active in his home church and other churches with a talented group of Bluegrass Gospel musicians. Rev. Kitchen's 40 years of full-time work resulted in a firm foundation and a Gospel message always in harmony with the teachings of Jesus Christ and the message of the Apostles.

Today, under the leadership of Pastor Harper, the Saints of Apostolic Life Cathedral touch thousands of lives everyday, not only in the Tri-State area, but around the world with the Gospel Message.