St. Paul's African Methodist Episcopal Church (Urbana, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Paul AME Church
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Front and side of the church
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 316 E. Market St., Urbana, Ohio |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1876 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Mid 19th Century Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000954 |
| Added to NRHP | September 5, 1997 |
St. Paul's African Methodist Episcopal Church is a very old and important church in Urbana, Ohio, United States. It was built in 1876. The church has a special style called Greek Revival. This church is home to a group of people who started meeting together way back in the 1820s.
Contents
The Church's Early History
Some of the first Black residents in Urbana had been part of African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) churches in other places. Around 1824 or 1825, a missionary named Moses Freeman visited Urbana. He was traveling through the western parts of the United States at that time.
Mr. Freeman met these former church members in Urbana. He helped them officially start their own church group. Eight people were the first members of this new church. In the very beginning, they met in each other's homes. They didn't have enough money to build a church building yet.
Building the First Churches
Once the church group grew stronger, they built their first building. It was a small structure made of logs. Soon, this log church became too small for everyone who wanted to worship there. So, in 1844, they took down the log church.
The church members then built a bigger church made of brick. But over time, even this brick church became too small. So, in 1866, the members started to build an even newer and larger church.
Important Church Leaders
Two important ministers led the church in its early years: Jerry Thompson and Benjamin W. Arnett. Jerry Thompson was a powerful speaker. He was known for his passionate sermons, even though he couldn't read or write. He served the church in its very first years.
Benjamin W. Arnett became the pastor in 1876. He also served other A.M.E. churches in Ohio, like those in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Toledo. Mr. Arnett became very famous after his time in Urbana.
In 1886, he was a state representative for Greene County. He worked hard to get rid of Ohio's "black codes." These were unfair laws that limited the rights of Black people. His efforts helped make things more equal.
Today, St. Paul's is still an active church. It continues to be an important part of the A.M.E. Church community.
The Church Building's Design
Building the current church took a long time. Work started in 1866, but it wasn't finished until after Benjamin Arnett became the pastor in 1876. This church building is mostly made of strong materials.
Its base is made of brick. The walls are also brick, but they are covered with a smooth layer called stucco. The roof is made of asphalt and has a pointed shape called a gable. Many windows with multiple glass panes let light into the church.
In 1997, St. Paul's Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site. It was listed because of its role in local history and its beautiful old architecture.
