St. Andrews A.M.E. Church | |
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![]() St. Andrews A.M.E. Church, c. 1926 | |
Location | 2131 Eighth Street, Sacramento, Sacramento County, California, U.S. |
Coordinates | 38°35′03″N 121°29′46″W / 38.584217°N 121.496033°W |
Founded | 1850 |
Designated | May 5, 1994 |
Reference no. | 1013 [1] |
Plaque location | 715 Seventh Street, Sacramento, Sacramento County, California, U.S. |
Founder | Daniel Blue |
The Saint Andrews African Methodist Episcopal Church is an African Methodist Episcopal Church in Sacramento, California, founded in 1850. It was the first African American church in California [2] and the first AME Church on the West Coast of the United States. [3] It was originally located at 715 Seventh Street, which is marked by a historical plaque. [1] This church is still active, and is presently located at 2131 Eighth Street in Sacramento. It is listed as a California Historical Landmark (number 1013) since May 5, 1994. [1] It was formerly known as the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church and the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The congregation was founded in 1850 and a year later it was admitted into the African Methodist Episcopal Church, becoming the first on the West Coast. [1] It was initially known as the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church and when it became part of the AME the name was changed to Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. [1] [4] During 1850, California became an official state; and the California Gold Rush had recently started two years earlier. [2] Many African Americans were working in the gold mining areas near Sacramento, [2] some in search of their own wealth, and freedom as gold miners, and others working under Southern gold miners.
Daniel Blue (1796–1884), had founded the church. [2] [3] [5] Blue was formerly enslaved in Kentucky, and had made his fortunes in gold mining in California; and Blue had held his first church service in his own basement. [5] [3] [6] Some of the earliest congregation included Mary Robinson Thames, and Ethel Guinn. [2] The first pastor was Barney Fletcher, however he wasn't officially ordained. [2] Other early pastors included Rev. James Fitzgerald from 1851 to 1852; Rev. A. Giles from 1852 to 1854; Rev. George Fletcher from 1853 to 1854; and Rev. Darius Stokes from 1854 to 1856. [2] Thomas Marcus Decatur Ward had worked as briefly as the first Sunday School teacher and as a pastor. [2] In 1854, Elizabeth Thorn Scott Flood had started an early African American school at her home with the help of this church.
The Saint Andrews African Methodist Episcopal Church had served as a community meeting place. In November 1855, the church was the site of the first California State Convention of Colored Citizens, and the following conventions in 1856, and 1865. [2] [7] [4]
St. Andrews A.M.E. Church | |
---|---|
![]() St. Andrews A.M.E. Church, c. 1926 | |
Location | 2131 Eighth Street, Sacramento, Sacramento County, California, U.S. |
Coordinates | 38°35′03″N 121°29′46″W / 38.584217°N 121.496033°W |
Founded | 1850 |
Designated | May 5, 1994 |
Reference no. | 1013 [1] |
Plaque location | 715 Seventh Street, Sacramento, Sacramento County, California, U.S. |
Founder | Daniel Blue |
The Saint Andrews African Methodist Episcopal Church is an African Methodist Episcopal Church in Sacramento, California, founded in 1850. It was the first African American church in California [2] and the first AME Church on the West Coast of the United States. [3] It was originally located at 715 Seventh Street, which is marked by a historical plaque. [1] This church is still active, and is presently located at 2131 Eighth Street in Sacramento. It is listed as a California Historical Landmark (number 1013) since May 5, 1994. [1] It was formerly known as the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church and the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The congregation was founded in 1850 and a year later it was admitted into the African Methodist Episcopal Church, becoming the first on the West Coast. [1] It was initially known as the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church and when it became part of the AME the name was changed to Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. [1] [4] During 1850, California became an official state; and the California Gold Rush had recently started two years earlier. [2] Many African Americans were working in the gold mining areas near Sacramento, [2] some in search of their own wealth, and freedom as gold miners, and others working under Southern gold miners.
Daniel Blue (1796–1884), had founded the church. [2] [3] [5] Blue was formerly enslaved in Kentucky, and had made his fortunes in gold mining in California; and Blue had held his first church service in his own basement. [5] [3] [6] Some of the earliest congregation included Mary Robinson Thames, and Ethel Guinn. [2] The first pastor was Barney Fletcher, however he wasn't officially ordained. [2] Other early pastors included Rev. James Fitzgerald from 1851 to 1852; Rev. A. Giles from 1852 to 1854; Rev. George Fletcher from 1853 to 1854; and Rev. Darius Stokes from 1854 to 1856. [2] Thomas Marcus Decatur Ward had worked as briefly as the first Sunday School teacher and as a pastor. [2] In 1854, Elizabeth Thorn Scott Flood had started an early African American school at her home with the help of this church.
The Saint Andrews African Methodist Episcopal Church had served as a community meeting place. In November 1855, the church was the site of the first California State Convention of Colored Citizens, and the following conventions in 1856, and 1865. [2] [7] [4]