St James Episcopal Church (Baltimore, Maryland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. James Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square |
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| 39°17′56″N 76°38′08″W / 39.2990°N 76.6355°W | |
| Location | Corner of Lafayette and Arlington Avenues, Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
| Denomination | Episcopal |
| Churchmanship | Broad church |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 1824 |
| Founder(s) | Rev. William Levington |
| Dedication | St. James |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Maryland landmark |
| Designated | 1992 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1866 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 300 |
| Materials | granite and sandstone |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St. James Parish |
| Diocese | Maryland |
| Province | Third |
St. James Episcopal Church Lafayette Square, also known as St. James African Episcopal Church, is a historic church in Baltimore, Maryland. It was started in 1824 and is an important part of the Lafayette Square Historic District.
Church History
This church was one of the first Colored Episcopal Missions in the southern United States. It was created for African American worshipers. The first service was held on June 23, 1824, by Reverend William Levington. It took place in a room at Park Avenue and Marion Street.
Only two other Episcopal churches for African Americans are older: St. Philips Episcopal Church in New York and St. Thomas Church in Philadelphia. Reverend Levington was ordained at St. Thomas Church.
The church moved a few times. In 1827, a new building was dedicated at North (now Guilford) and Saratoga Streets. After Reverend Levington passed away, the church had white ministers and lost its independent status for a while.
Growth and New Buildings
In 1891, Reverend George Freeman Bragg became the church's rector. He was a historian who studied early African Episcopal churches. He led the congregation for 49 years until he died in 1940.
By 1901, the church had grown a lot. They built and dedicated a new building at Park Avenue and Preston Street. By 1924, St. James was one of the biggest Black Episcopalian churches in the country. It had more than 500 members.
On Easter in 1932, the congregation moved into its current building. They bought it from another church that had moved away.
Modern Times and Community
Reverend Donald Wilson was the rector from 1963 to 1986. He helped the church make big changes in the neighborhood. Under his leadership, the church invested in the area. For example, they built the St. James Terrace Apartments in 1968.
In 1993, lightning hit the church. It damaged the beautiful rose window and other parts of the building. But the church was repaired and rededicated in 1995.
Reverend Michael Bruce Curry served as rector from 1988 to 2000. He later became a bishop. The current rector, Allen F. Robinson, has been serving since 2002. In 2008, the church hosted a special meeting. At this meeting, Eugene Sutton was chosen as the first African American Bishop of the Diocese of Maryland.
Church Architecture
The St. James Episcopal Church building is made of stone. It has several interesting features.
- Stepped Buttresses: These are strong supports that stick out from the walls. They look like steps.
- Pointed-Arch Entrances: The main doors have arches that come to a point at the top. They also have stone "hoods" above them.
- Tower: The church has a tower that looks like an Italian Romanesque campanile. This is a type of bell tower.
- Windows: You can see small, pointed windows that go upwards. There's also a round "bulls-eye" window on the second level. A large, beautiful "rose window" is located above the main entrance.
