St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church (Omaha, Nebraska) facts for kids
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St. John A.M.E. Church
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The east entrance to St. John A.M.E. Church.
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 Location in Nebraska
Location in the United States
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| Location | Omaha, Nebraska |
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| Built | 1921 |
| Architect | Frederick S. Stott |
| Architectural style | Prairie School |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002449 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 29, 1980 |
St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church is a very important church in Nebraska's history. It was the first church for African Americans in the state. The church was started in North Omaha in 1867. You can find it at 2402 North 22nd Street in the Near North Side neighborhood.
The church building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as a special historical site. The building was built in the center of Omaha's North Side. It was designed in the Prairie School architecture style. This style is quite rare. It's even more unusual because this building was designed in the 1920s. By then, the Prairie Style was not as popular as it once was.
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About St. John A.M.E. Church
The St. John A.M.E. Church was first organized in the fall of 1865. Its first minister was Reverend W. T. Osborne. He was also the very first African American minister in Nebraska.
The church's first meetings were held at a private home. This home was on Capitol Avenue and Ninth Street in what is now downtown Omaha. After a short time, the church moved to Harney Street. Then, it moved to Douglas and Fifteenth Streets until the summer of 1865. That year, the church bought land at the corner of Eighteenth and Webster Streets in Near North Omaha. The first church building was built there for $1,000.
Mrs. Eliza Turner was the longest-standing member of the church. She attended St. John's regularly for seventy years until she passed away in 1938. Today, St. John A.M.E. Church has a lively group of members. The church helps the community in many different ways.
Early Church Leaders
Here are some of the early pastors who led the St. John A.M.E. Church:
- Rev. J. H. Hubbard, from 1866 to 1868
- Rev. W. B. Ousley, from 1868 to 1869
- W. L. Harrod, from 1869 to 1870
- William Sexton, from 1870 to 1871
- G. W. Gaines, from 1871 to 1873
- J. W. Braxton, from 1873 to 1875
- B. F. Watson, from 1875 to 1876
- J. A. Fouche, from 1876 to 1878
Church Buildings and Design
St. John's has been located in three different church buildings over the years. The second church building was at North 25th and Grant Streets. This building was special because it was designed by Clarence W. Wigington. He was Omaha's first African American architect. This second church was built around the year 1900.
As the church grew, the members needed a bigger building. They found a new place to build at 2402 North 22nd Street. The current St. John A.M.E. Church building was designed by a local architect named Frederick S. Stott in 1921. He designed it in the Prairie School style.
In 1947, an auditorium was added to the church. More rooms were finished in 1956. The building is important because it shows how forward-thinking the church members were. At that time, most religious buildings followed very traditional designs. The St. John A.M.E. Church building is recognized as an important example of the Prairie School style. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in May 1980.
Important Members
Many important people in local and national history have been members of St. John's. These include:
- Ophelia Clenlans, a leader in civil rights in Omaha.
- Harrison J. Pinkett, the first lawyer in Nebraska to be trained at a university. He was also a civil rights leader in Omaha.
- W. H. C. Stephenson, a doctor and civil rights leader in Omaha.
See Also
- History of North Omaha, Nebraska
- Architecture of North Omaha, Nebraska
- Black church
- List of churches in Omaha, Nebraska
