Urban Core in Jacksonville in Duval County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

"Mother" Midway A.M.E. Church

Photographed by Mike Stroud, September 2, 2012

1. "Mother" Midway A.M.E. Church Marker

Inscription. Midway A.M.E. Church was organized on Sunday, June 10, 1865, a few weeks after the Confederate Army in Florida surrendered to the Union Army. It was thus the first black independent church organized in Florida. William G. Steward was sent to Florida by the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and founded a church at Midway, a settlement east of Jacksonville, on his second day in the state. Mr. Steward appointed Brother G. B. Hill as the pastor of Midway Church before going on to organize congregations in middle Florida and in the panhandle section of the state. In later years Mr. Steward became involved in politics in Leon and Gadsden Counties and served a term in the Florida Legislature. Midway Church is recognized as the "mother" of both the Florida Conference of the A.M.E. Church, organized in 1867 in Tallahassee, and of the East Florida Conference organized in Palatka in 1877. While the original church building is no longer standing, the congregation of "Mother" Midway has been in continuous existence since its founding.

Erected 1976 by African Methodist Episcopal Church of Foridain cooperation with Department of

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State. (Marker Number F-260.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 10, 1875.

Location. 30° 20.49′ N, 81° 38.479′ W. Marker is in Jacksonville, Florida, in Duval County. It is in Urban Core. It is on Van Buren Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1462 Van Buren Street, Jacksonville FL 32206, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Florida’s First Coast.

It is also in the American South

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

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 territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking

"Mother" Midway A.M.E. Church Marker, along Van Buren Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, September 2, 2012

2. "Mother" Midway A.M.E. Church Marker, along Van Buren Street

distance of this marker: Camp Springfield (Cuba Libre) (approx. 0.4 miles away); A. Philip Randolph Heritage Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Mungen House (approx. 0.6 miles away); Old Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Home (approx. ¾ mile away); Barnett Mansion (approx. 0.8 miles away); Henry John Klutho (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Monument to Women of the Southern Confederacy (approx. 0.9 miles away); Camp Site of the Forty-Ninth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jacksonville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Joseph E. Lee (was approx. 0.9 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

"Mother" Midway A.M.E. Church seen present day image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, September 2, 2012

3. "Mother" Midway A.M.E. Church seen present day

Present day Midway A.M.E. Church and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, September 2, 2012

4. Present day Midway A.M.E. Church and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,523 times since then and 90 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 5, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 3, 4. submitted on September 4, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.