Wilmington in New Hanover County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

St. Stephen A.M.E. Church

1880-1886

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

1. St. Stephen A.M.E. Church Marker

Inscription.
Late Gothic-revival style church built for African Methodist Episcopal congregation organized in 1865. Contractor and church member Lewis Hollingsworth designed the building. Other congregants worked as master carpenters and masons. Notable visitors include Booker T. Washington (1898) and US President William Howard Taft (1909). The 1913 Annex houses the Sunday School and has been used variously as a community center, hostel, library, school and medical clinic.

James D. and Rosalie W. Carr Memorial Plaque Fund
Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc.

Erected by Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture • Churches & Religion • Education. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #27 William Howard Taft series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1865.

Location. 34° 14.5′ N, 77° 56.629′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. Marker is on North 5th Avenue just north of Red Cross Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the west/front facade of the subject church, between the right

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sanctuary doors. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 501 Red Cross Street, Wilmington NC 28401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Rulfs House (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Henry F. Otten House (about 800 feet away); a different marker also named St. Stephen A.M.E. Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); William G. Craig House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Powell - Yopp House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Edwin A. Alderman (approx. 0.2 miles away); Grace Methodist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Stephen Jewett House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. St. Stephen A.M.E. Church

Also see . . .
1. An Abbreviated History of St. Stephen African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Although 1865 was the year in which African Methodism took root in Wilmington, the roots of Methodism began in 1798 when a Wesleyan missionary named William Meredith traveled up the coast preaching. His preaching sparked a divine flame amongst slaves and white citizens became suspicious of him, ultimately jailing him. So Meredith preached from the jail window until released. Upon his release, he continued his mission work and
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

2. St. Stephen A.M.E. Church (west/front facade)
(marker is mounted between right sanctuary doors)
established the Front Street Methodist Church with the aid of blacks who gave their “penny collections” to help him acquire property for the church.

(Submitted on June 19, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Honoring black history in Wilmington: St. Stephen AME Church.

St. Stephen was founded in 1865. Originally, St. Stephen was part of what was then Front St. Methodist Church. After the end of the Civil War, African American members of the Front St. Methodist Church wanted to have the black Chaplain of the Union Army preach a sermon, but they were denied by white members of the church. As a result, they were withdrawn from that congregation and they established St. Stephen. The church itself was built by former slaves and free black artisans.

(Submitted on June 19, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. St. Stephen African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church.

A large annex addition, built in 1913, provided the local Black community with a combined school, small clinic, hostel, and public bath. The L-shaped annex is attached to the east end of the main church, with the short end of the L wrapping around the south (street) facade. The three-and-a-half-story red brick annex is also designed in the Gothic Revival style, with light-colored brick highlighting the tops of the
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

3. St. Stephen A.M.E. Church
(southwest elevation)
arched windows, doorways, and forming a stringcourse above the raised basement.

(Submitted on June 19, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

St. Stephen A.M.E. Church: 1913 School & Clinic Annex image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

4. St. Stephen A.M.E. Church: 1913 School & Clinic Annex

(attached to east end of church • facing Red Cross Street)

May 29, 1994 Dedication<br>(<i>near southeast corner • between church and annex</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

5. May 29, 1994 Dedication
(near southeast corner • between church and annex)

Dedicated
Sunday, May 29, 1994
in honor of those
who have faithfully served
the Church over the ages:
Pastors, Officers & Members
Rt. Rev. Frederick Calhoun James, Bishop
Rev. Dr. L. O. Saunders, Presiding Elder
Rev. Johnny R. Calhoun, Paster
”To God Be The Glory!”

St. Stephen A.M.E. Church & Annex (<i>southwest elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

6. St. Stephen A.M.E. Church & Annex (southwest elevation)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 19, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 18, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 92 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 19, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.