St. Paul A.M.E. Church (Raleigh, North Carolina) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Paul A.M.E. Church
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 402 West Edenton St., Raleigh, North Carolina |
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| Built | 1884 |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80004607 |
| Added to NRHP | November 5, 1987 |
The St. Paul A.M.E. Church is a very old church in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was built in 1884. This church is special because it was the first independent church for African Americans in Raleigh. It is also the oldest African-American church in Wake County, North Carolina.
Before the American Civil War, the people who started St. Paul's Church were enslaved. They were part of the Edenton Street United Methodist Church. In 1848, these members began calling their group "St. Paul's." The church building has a beautiful Gothic Revival style. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. This means it is an important historic site.
Contents
History of St. Paul's Church
The story of St. Paul's Church began a long time ago. From 1846 to 1853, the Black members of Edenton Street Church met at Old Christ Church. Later, they moved to a different building. This building was at the corner of Edenton and Harrington streets.
Becoming an Independent Church
After slavery ended in 1865, the Black church members wanted to be independent. They left the Edenton Street Church. They joined the African Methodist Episcopal Church. This church group was started in 1816 by Reverend Richard Allen. He was a free Black man from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
St. Paul's became the first African Methodist Episcopal church in Raleigh. It was a place where Black leaders could grow. Many important people in the Black community were part of St. Paul's. The church helped train new leaders too.
Church Leaders and Politics
After slavery was abolished, ministers from St. Paul's became important leaders. They were active in politics during the Reconstruction period. Raleigh was the state capital. This made it a center for Black political action.
Some of North Carolina's top Black spokesmen were members of St. Paul's. These included State Senator Henry Eppes. Another was Legislator Stewart Ellison. R. W. H. Leak, a leader in the late 1800s, was also a member.
Women's Role in the Church
Women were also very active in St. Paul's Church. They formed groups to help women and children. They worked on issues like welfare, health, and education. The Black community strongly believed in educating their children. The church connected education to the community's future.
Building the New Church
In 1884, work began on a new church building. It took 25 years to finish because of money problems. Many people in the Southern United States faced financial struggles after the Civil War. Church members even ate very simple meals to save money for the church.
The main part of the building was finished in May 1901. The church held a big celebration. The governor, Charles B. Aycock, even gave a speech. A local newspaper called St. Paul's "one of the handsomest colored churches in the South."
In 1909, a fire accidentally burned most of the building. Only the brick walls were left. People from both the Black and white communities donated money. This helped rebuild the church. They also added the tall spire that had been planned for a long time.
St. Paul's During the Civil Rights Movement
During the Civil Rights Movement, St. Paul's Church was a key meeting place. The Black community held many meetings and rallies there. The church continued to be a center for community organizing.
Members of the church had always worked to help people register to vote. Raleigh had many educated Black residents. This meant more Black people were registered to vote there. In the 1960s, the community worked hard to increase voter registration. They also encouraged people to vote in elections.
Many famous national speakers visited the church. For example, in 1988, Jesse Jackson gave a speech there. Today, St. Paul A.M.E. Church remains an important historic place in downtown Raleigh.
See also
