St. James' A. M. E. Church (Newark, New Jersey) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. James' A.M.E. Church |
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| Saint James AME Church | |
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 St. James' A.M.E. Church
Location in Essex County, New Jersey
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| 40°43′57″N 74°10′52″W / 40.73250°N 74.18111°W | |
| Location | Newark, NJ |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | African Methodist Episcopal |
| Previous denomination | Presbyterian |
| Membership | approx. 4,000 |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Bethel AME Church High Street Presbyterian Church |
| Founded | 1842 |
| Founder(s) | Reverend C. Birch |
| Dedicated | May 17, 1852 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | John Welch Carrère and Hastings (addition) |
| Architectural type | English Gothic |
| Years built | 1850-1852 |
| Groundbreaking | September 3, 1850 |
| Construction cost | $40,300 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 86 feet (26 m) |
| Width | 86 feet (26 m) |
| Height | 150 feet (46 m) |
| Other dimensions | Chancel: 43 by 23 feet (13.1 by 7.0 m) |
| Number of spires | 1 |
| Spire height | 100 feet (30 m) |
| Administration | |
| Episcopal area | The African Methodist Episcopal Church |
| Province | Province of New York and New Jersey |
| District | First Episcopal District |
St. James' A.M.E. Church is a historic church. It is located in Newark, New Jersey. The church was built in 1850 by architect John Welch. It was officially opened in 1854.
It was first known as the High Street Presbyterian Church. In 1926, the church briefly closed. It then reopened as Bethel AME Church. Later, it was renamed Saint James' AME Church.
Contents
The Church's History
The church started in 1842 on Green Street in Newark. Reverend C. Birch helped to form it. After a short closure in 1926, it became Saint James AME Church.
The church held services in different places over the years. Eventually, it settled at 94 Union Street. In January 1945, the church moved to its current building. This building is on High Street, now called Martin Luther King Boulevard. This building used to be the Old High Street Presbyterian Church.
In August 1945, the first wedding happened at the new High Street location. Mr. John C. Reynolds and Mrs. Alberta Reynolds were married there. James Ballard worked as the church's caretaker for 35 years. He retired in 1980.
Many pastors have led Saint James Church. One pastor, Bishop Vernon Randolph Byrd, became very famous. He was elected the 105th Bishop of the AME Church in 1984. This happened right from the pulpit of Saint James.
Historic Recognition and Restoration
Saint James Church was added to the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places in 1972. This special status helped the church get money for its upkeep. In 2000, it received a large grant of $1.3 million. This money came from the New Jersey Historic Trust.
During the restoration work, the church held services elsewhere. They met at a nearby Arts High School for about nine months. This allowed the important repair and beautification work to happen.
Church Architecture and Design
The church was built in a beautiful Gothic style. It looks like churches from the 14th century. All the stone used came from Little Falls. Architect John Welch designed it. This was one of his first projects in the United States.
The inside of the church is bright and open. It does not have upper balconies. The stained glass windows are very pretty. They make the light inside soft and warm. The pews are comfortable and covered in red fabric. The carpets match this color.
The pulpit is made of oak wood with detailed carvings. The wood in the organ area is also oak. At night, the church is lit by gas lights on the walls. There are also fancy gold-colored candle holders.
Building Structure and Additions
The church has a rectangular shape. Its tower, pillars, and altar area are like those in 14th-century English churches. The building is made of hand-cut stone. It looks like a special type of brick pattern.
The tower at the front is in a Norman style. It also has some early English design parts. The church faces east and west. Its front doors are at the same level as the sidewalk. The main part of the church and a back addition go down a steep hill. This makes the building look very big. However, the inside is not as large as it seems.
A lecture hall was added to the back in 1890. It starts where the side walls end. This back building looks like a large side wing. But it is actually a separate building. The original church goes from the front tower to the back wall of the main area. This back wall serves as the central pulpit area.
The entire back part of the building is separate. It has offices and a large lecture room upstairs. This part is made of brick. It has a brownstone front, similar to the main church. You can enter this part from the main church or through separate outside doors. A stone on the southeast corner shows the date 1890. The builders tried hard to make the new stone match the old.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Jaime (Newark) para niños
