History Of
St. Paul AME Church
The history of St. Paul A.M.E. Church dates back to the city of Raleigh’s early origins. The faithful who started the church began calling themselves St. Paul in 1848; however, their worship in Raleigh can be traced to 1811.
A Church Rooted in Raleigh's History
A Brief History of the Stewards of St. Paul A.M.E. Church, written in 1943 by H.C. Perrin, places the roots of the congregation even earlier, to 1781. This church, its people, and their stories have always shaped the development and culture of North Carolina’s capital city. The chronicle of Raleigh’s first independent African American congregation also provides the context for transformational times throughout our state and nation’s history. St. Paul, the first Black church in Wake County, charts the history of the first Freedmen’s Convention in the state, the first school for Freed people in Raleigh, and a symbol of active community-building for nearly three centuries.