North-Central in Charleston in Charleston County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church (Built 1895)
624 Rutledge Avenue
Photographed by Laurel Fay, September 19, 2026
1. Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church Marker
Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church was incorporated in 1888 as independent congregations of formerly enslaved African Americans formed across Charleston in the years following emancipation. The congregation first worshipped in a secular building that once stood at 24 Chalmers Street and grew rapidly, enabling the construction of this church building in 1895. Situated on newly subdivided land that was once part of Pick Pocket Plantation, Saint Paul is one of the earliest surviving Black Baptist structures in Charleston and one of the oldest churches on the upper peninsula.
Church president William H. H. Cradle and secretary William W. Johnson purchased this parcel of land in 1892 and conveyed it to the church the next day. Cradle worked as railroad watchman and lived nearby with his wife, Elizabeth. The Rev. Walter Williams was the founding pastor, followed by Samuel S. Youngblood, Sr., who led the church from the 1910s until his death in 1921. Saint Paul was one of the last congregations in Charleston to perform river baptisms at the foot of Council Street, which was a waterfront area until the early 20th century.
this page online
Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church is a rare surviving example of late-19th century vernacular ecclesiastical architecture, as many contemporary structures have been substantially altered through additions or the application of brick veneer. The wood-frame building is characterized by a steep gable roof and double entry doors surrounded by painted paneling with an arched window above, and retains its original cast iron fencing. A rear addition was constructed in 1928 as the pastor's apartment, and now serves as the parish hall. Original interior features include a diagonal-patterned beadboard ceiling, plaster coving, and retrofitted gaslight piping. A full-submersion baptismal basin sits below the altar, which is set in an octagonal apse with gilded ornament. The church has a vestibule and galleries supported by wooden Tuscan columns with gilded capitals, pine flooring, and paneled side walls. With the motto, "We're still standing," the congregation remains active and celebrated its 137th anniversary in 2025.
Erected 2026
Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, September 19, 2026
2. Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church Marker Before Dedication
Marker was dedicated at 11AM on September 19, 2026. I took this at 7:15AM.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1895.
Location. 32° 47.915′ N, 79° 57.063′ W. Marker is in Charleston, South Carolina, in Charleston County. It is in North-Central. It is on Rutledge Avenue, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 624 Rutledge Avenue, Charleston SC 29403, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Historic Charleston and in the Lowcountry. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of
Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, September 19, 2026
3. Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church and Marker
More about this marker. Marker was dedicated September 19,2026 at 11 AM.
Also see . . . St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church to unveil historical marker (MSN, 9/19/26). Full title: It's truly emotional: St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church to unveil historical marker and monument (Submitted on September 21, 2026.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 21, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 21, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 21, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
