Main/Military Plaza in San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church on San Pedro Creek
Photographed by James Hulse, January 8, 2023
1. St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church on San Pedro Creek Marker
After The Emancipation Proclamation reached Texas in 1865, a congregation of approximately one hundred formerly enslaved people and free African-Americans came together in San Antonio in 1867 under the spiritual discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.C). They gathered at each other's homes with no central place to worship until 1871, when they secured the former Menger Soap Factory on San Pedro Creek, establishing the first physical meeting place for African Americans and the A.M.E.C. in San Antonio.St. James, the first A.M.E. church in San Antonio where African-Americans worshipped autonomously and without restrictions imposed by others, became a beacon on the west side of San Antonio. Its ministry stressed political participation, education, civil rights, public service and economic empowerment, with members having served as firefighters, freemasons, postal workers, and college founders. This exemplifies the spirit of the Free African Society, from which the A.M.E.C. evolved.
Captions
1: Former Church Building in foreground, ca. 1880
2: San Antonio
this page online
3: A Timeline: Site on San Pedro Creek
[Spanish Text]
Luego de Que la Proclamación de la Emancipación llegara a Texas en 1865, una congregación de aproximadamente cien afroamericanos libres, anteriormente esclavizados se reunieron en San Antonio en 1867 bajo la disciplina espiritual de la Iglesia Episcopal Metodista Africana (A.M.E.C). Se reunían en las viviendas de unos y otros sin un sitio central de culto hasta 1871, cuando obtuvieron la antigua Menger Soap Factory en San Pedro Creek, estableciendo el primer lugar de reunión físico para los afroamericanos y la A.M.E.C. en San Antonio. St. James, la primera iglesia A.M.E. en San Antonio, donde los afroamericanos celebraban su culto de forma autónoma y sin restricciones impuestas por otros, se convirtió en un ejemplo en el lado oeste de San Antonio. Su ministerio hacía hincapié en la participación política, la educación, los derechos civiles, el servicio público y el empoderamiento económico, con miembros que se desempeñaron como bomberos, francmasones, trabajadores del correo y fundadores de universidades. Esto ejemplifica el espíritu de la Sociedad Africana Libre, de la cual evolucionó la A.M.E.C.
Subtítulos
1:
Photographed by James Hulse, January 8, 2023
2. The view of the St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church Marker along Cameron Street
2: La traducción en español del artículo está disponible en el sitio web de San Pedro Creek.
3: Una línea de tiempo: Sitio en San Pedro Creek
Erected 2022 by San Pedro Creek Cultural Park.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1865.
Location. 29° 25.571′ N, 98° 29.762′ W. Marker is in San Antonio, Texas, in Bexar County. It is in Main/Military Plaza. It is at the intersection of Camaron Street and West Houston Street, on the left when traveling north on Camaron Street. The marker is located along the west side of the street in the San Pedro Creek Cultural Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 125 Camaron Street, San Antonio TX 78205, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in South Texas. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Richly Layered History (a few steps from this marker); The Golden Age of Entertainment Along the Creek (within shouting distance of this marker); Houston Street (within shouting distance of this marker); The Barrio del Norte (within shouting distance of this marker); The New Blossoming of San Pedro Creek (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Commerce Street (about 400 feet away); The Mexican Revolution (about 400 feet away); Thomas Claiborne Frost (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Antonio.
Also see . . . Where beauty meets purpose. San Pedro Creek Culture Park (Submitted on January 21, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 20, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 453 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 21, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
