What if these walls could talk? They would tell a story of resilience. They would speak of community. They would whisper tales of faith embodied by Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church is a beacon of hope in Los Angeles. It stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. It is a place where history and community intertwine.
Let’s step back to the roots of the AME Church. The AMEC grew from the Free African Society. Richard Allen and Absalom Jones established it in Philadelphia in 1787. This came about because of racial discrimination. Black members were pulled off their knees while praying. The FAS transformed into an African congregation. In 1794, Bethel AME was dedicated. Allen became the pastor.
Before the Civil War, the AMEC’s spread was mainly in the Northeast and Midwest. After the Civil War, AME clergy moved into the collapsing Confederacy. They brought newly freed slaves into their denomination. By 1880, AME membership reached 400,000.
Now, let’s focus on Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles. The First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles is the oldest church founded by African Americans in Los Angeles. It dates back to 1872. Biddy Mason and her son-in-law Charles Owens sponsored the church. Mason was a nurse, real estate entrepreneur, and philanthropist. The organizing meetings were held in Mason’s home on Spring Street. She donated the land for the first church.
The church was previously located at 8th & Towne. The current church in the West Adams district was completed in 1968. Paul R. Williams, an African American architect, designed it.
In 1993, authorities unearthed a plot to attack the First AME Church. Young men associated with the “Fourth Reich Skinheads” planned to blow it up. They wanted to ignite a race war.
Cecil Murray became pastor in 1977. At that time, it had 300 members. Under his leadership, the church grew to 18,000 people.
The church is a center of political and social action. In the 80’s and 90’s, the church created 40 task forces. These focused on health, substance abuse, homelessness, and more. President George H. W. Bush named the Church a Point of Light for community service.
Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church stands as a testament. It shows how faith and community can create a lasting legacy.