Gettysburg in Adams County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
St. Paul's A.M.E. Zion Church
St. Paul's A.M.E. Zion Church, erected in 1917, is the third church to be used by Gettysburg's oldest African American congregationfounded ca. 1838 in a small frame building on nearby Franklin Street. Members of this congregation have long been active and prominent in the Borough's African American community, and have provided a rich tradition of served to the community and nation.
Prior to the Civil War many members became part of the "abolitionist" movement. In December 1840, a committee headed by Henry O. Chiler met at the first church to form the "Slave Refugee Society." This group appointed a committee composed of James Cameron, Henry Butler, James Jones, Henry O. Chiler and John Jones to draft a constitution and seek a means to help those who sought freedom from "the tyrannical yoke of oppression."
During the Civil War, several members of St. Paul's joined the newly formed "United States Colored Troops" and served during 1864-65. Among them were Lloyd F. Watts and Samuel Stanton. Watts went on to become an important community leader and one of the first African American teachers in the public school system.
Stanton had a diverse Civil War military career. He joined the U.S. Navy early in 1863 and served a year as a "landsman" before being discharged and re-enlisting in the army's Third Regt.
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This commitment to public service, despite racial prejudice, has been a hallmark of many others from this church who have sacrificed on behalf of their countrymen.
Erected by Main Street Gettysburg, Inc.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Religion & Religious Structures • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME Zion) Church series list. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1840.
Location. 39° 49.617′ N, 77° 14.006′ W. Marker is in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in Adams County. It is at the intersection of South Washington Street and Breckenridge Street, on the right when traveling south on South Washington Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 269 South Washington Street, Gettysburg PA 17325, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mary Virginia Wade Lived in This House (within shouting distance of this marker); The "Jack" Hopkins House (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Goodwill Cemetery (about 500 feet away); Shriver's Four Square Garden (about 600 feet away); " run home as quickly as you can."
Additional keywords. African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Methodism
Credits. This page was last revised on June 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 24, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 1,701 times since then and 89 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 24, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
