Lake City in Florence County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Greater St. James A.M.E. Church
Photographed By Cindy Bullard, October 25, 2010
1. Greater St. James A.M.E. Church Marker (front)
[Front]
This church was founded in 1883 by a Rev. Hill and twenty-five charter members. Early services were held in a member’s house on E. Main Street. The congregation purchased a lot at the corner of Lake and N. Church Streets in 1885 and built its first sanctuary, a frame building, that year. That church was renovated and enlarged in 1917. It was further renovated, adding a steeple, in 1948-50.
[Reverse]
In 1951 Rev. J.A. DeLaine (1898-1974) was transferred from Pine Grove A.M.E. Church in Summerton after playing a leading role in Briggs v. Elliott, the Clarendon County school desegregation case that led to Brown v. Board of Education (1954). Unknown persons burned the church in October 1955. Rev. G. Lee Baylor was the pastor when a new sanctuary, named Greater St. James, was dedicated here in 1957.
Erected 2004 by the Congregation. (Marker Number 21-16.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Civil Rights. In addition, it is included in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church series list. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1955.
Location. 33° 51.995′ N, 79° 45.902′ W. Marker is in Lake City, South Carolina, in Florence County
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Lynching of Frazier Baker (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lake City Tobacco Markets / Imperial Tobacco Company (approx. half a mile away); W.T. Askins House (approx. 0.6 miles away); Lake City Produce Markets / Lake City Bean Market (approx. ¾ mile away); 115 West Main Street (approx. ¾ mile away); 111 West Main Street (approx. ¾ mile away); H.H. Singletary Building (approx. ¾ mile away); Palmetto State Bank Robbery (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lake City.
Photographed By Cindy Bullard, October 25, 2010
2. Greater St. James A.M.E. Church Marker (reverse)
Photographed By Cindy Bullard, October 25, 2010
3. Greater St. James A.M.E. Church
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 27, 2010, by David Bullard of Seneca, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 963 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 27, 2010, by David Bullard of Seneca, South Carolina. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
