Sanford in Seminole County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church

Erected - 1910-1913

— 819 Cypress Avenue —

St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, December 30, 2011

1. St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church Marker

Inscription. Saint James African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church has been located on Cypress Avenue since 1880 on land purchased from General Henry S. Sanford. The current structure was designed by Prince W. Spears and built in 1910-1913.

The design of the church is a Ravenna and Bacchus style of Constantinople (circa 527 A.D.). It contains an octagonal baptistry within a square structure; slanting theatre floor; circularly positioned pews; an octagonal cupola; and four matching stained-glass windows in a conservative, Tiffany style.

Saint James was significant in the earlier days of the A.M.E. Church in Florida, serving as parent church to several mission churches in the Sanford area, and continues to play a leading role in the Black Churches of Florida.
—

Presented to the St. James A.M.E. Church membership by the
City of Sanford Historic Preservation Board - 1991

Erected 1991 by the City of Sanford Historic Preservation Board.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, and the Florida - Sanford Historic Preservation Board series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.

Location.

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28° 48.275′ N, 81° 15.822′ W. Marker is in Sanford, Florida, in Seminole County. Marker is at the intersection of Cypress Avenue and East Ninth Street, on the right when traveling north on Cypress Avenue. The marker is mounted on the corner of the building, to the side of the main entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 819 Cypress Avenue, Sanford FL 32771, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Georgetown (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hopper Academy (approx. 0.2 miles away); Historical Figures (approx. ¼ mile away); Sanford Avenue (approx. 0.3 miles away); Businesses (approx. 0.3 miles away); Vanished Sanford (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Georgetown (approx. 0.4 miles away); Sanford Est. 1877 (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sanford.

Regarding St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church. St. James A. M. E. Church was listed with the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 (ref #92000352).

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. The markers detail early African American communities in the Sanford area.

Also see . . . St. James A. M. E. Church page on Wikipedia. (Submitted on April 8, 2012, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida.)

Photographed By AGS Media, December 30, 2011

2. St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church Marker

Photographed By AGS Media, December 30, 2011

3. St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church Marker

St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, December 30, 2011

4. St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church

St. James A. M. E. Church Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, December 30, 2011

5. St. James A. M. E. Church Plaque

Organized and built 1880 by Rev. S.H. Coleman D.D.
Rebuilt 1913 by Revs W.H. Brown. T.J. Williams. J.J. Harris.

St. James A. M. E. Church Plaques image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, December 30, 2011

6. St. James A. M. E. Church Plaques

The church is also home to Prince Hall Grand Lodge, A. F. & A. M. of Fla.

Photographed By AGS Media, December 30, 2011

7. St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church

Credits. This page was last revised on February 29, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 8, 2012, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. This page has been viewed 869 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on April 8, 2012, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.