For nearly three centuries, St. Paul A.M.E. Church has stood as a living witness to Raleigh's history and helped write it. From its roots as an integrated congregation in 1811, to the night its members rolled a wood-frame sanctuary across the State Capitol grounds by torchlight, to the halls that hosted North Carolina's first Freedmen's Convention, St. Paul's story is one of faith, resilience, and community-building. Explore the milestones below to trace the journey of Raleigh's first independent African American congregation, from its earliest days to today.

Timeline

FREEDMEN’S CONVENTION (1865, 1866)

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St. Paul AME Church became the site of the first North Carolina Freedmen’s Convention in the Fall of 1865.

BECOMING AME AND “LINCOLN CHURCH” (1865)

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In 1865, the year the Civil War ended and Congress abolished slavery, St. Paul changed its affiliation to African American Episcopalian (AME), a denomination founded in 1787 and organized in 1816 by Reverend Richard Allen.

Humble Beginnings (1811-1853)

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The Methodist church in Raleigh formed in 1811. As was custom during those early years, the Methodist congregation was integrated with enslaved Black people and a few free people of color among its white worshippers.

A Church Rooted in Raleigh's History

St. Paul A.M.E.: A History of Firsts

THE ANDREW JOHNSON SCHOOL (1867)

The first classes to educate formerly enslaved people in Raleigh took place inside St. Paul AME Church beginning in 1865.

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BUILDING IN BRICK / THE FIRE / REBUILD (1884, 1901,1910)

In 1884 the church laid the cornerstone for its first brick edifice, with formerly enslaved builder Stewart Ellison named as the project manager.

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SMOKY HOLLOW COMMUNITY

Smoky Hollow existed prior to the Civil War as a developing Black community north and west of the State Capitol Building in Raleigh.

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The Lord was pleased to strengthen us, and disposed our hearts to be as useful as possible - Richard Allen