St. James' A. M. E. Church (Newark, New Jersey)

St. James' A.M.E. Church is a historic church located at High and Court Streets in Newark, New Jersey. Built in 1850 by architect John Welch and dedicated in 1854, it was originally called the High Street Presbyterian Church until 1926, when it was briefly disbanded. It was re-established as Bethel AME Church before being renamed Saint James' AME Church.

St. James' A.M.E. Church
Saint James AME Church
St. James' A.M.E. Church
40°43′57″N 74°10′52″W
Location	Newark, NJ
Country	United States
Denomination	African Methodist Episcopal
Previous denomination	Presbyterian[1]
Membership	approx. 4,000[2]
Website	www.stjamesame.org
History
Former name(s)	Bethel AME Church[2] High Street Presbyterian Church[3]
Founded	1842
Founder(s)	Reverend C. Birch[2]
Dedicated	May 17, 1852[1]
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	John Welch Carrère and Hastings (addition)
Architectural type	English Gothic[3]
Years built	1850-1852
Groundbreaking	September 3, 1850
Construction cost	$40,300[1]
Specifications
Length	86 feet (26 m)[1]
Width	86 feet (26 m)[1]
Height	150 feet (46 m)[1]
Other dimensions	Chancel: 43 by 23 feet (13.1 by 7.0 m)[1]
Number of spires	1[1]
Spire height	100 feet (30 m)
Administration
Episcopal area	The African Methodist Episcopal Church[4]
Province	Province of New York and New Jersey
District	First Episcopal District[4]
Clergy
Bishop(s)	Right Reverend Gregory G.M. Ingram[4]
Assistant	Sister Alison Nettles (to Rev. Slaughter)[5]
Senior pastor(s)	Ronald Slaughter, MDiv[6]
Laity
Director of music	Reverend T.J. Martin II[7]
Business manager	Reverend Pamela Ringold[5]
Religious education coordinator	Reverend Pamela Ringold
Youth ministry coordinator	Dashay Carter[8]
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
New Jersey Register of Historic Places
Location	9/3/1650
Built	September 3, 1850
Architect	John Welch Carrère and Hastings (addition)
Architectural style	English Gothic[1][9]
NRHP reference No.	72000787[1]
NJRHP No.	871[10]
Significant dates
Designated	October 18, 1972
Designated NJRHP	March 17, 1972[10]

History

Incorporated in 1842, and located on Green Street in Newark, it was formed under Rev. C. Birch, however, it was briefly disbanded in 1926[1] then re-established as Saint James AME Church. Church services were held in various places before settling at 94 Union Street. In January 1945, the church moved to its present building on High Street (now Martin Luther King Boulevard). Prior to the acquisition of the church on Union Street, the congregation worshipped at various locations. The present church had been the Old High Street Presbyterian Church.[2]

In August of that same year, the first marriage in Saint James at the new location on High Street, was that of the late Mr. John C. Reynolds and Mrs. Alberta Reynolds., and to this union, three daughters and one son were born. James Ballard was a dedicated worker as the church sexton and custodian for 35 years before retiring in 1980. A roster lists the names of all the prior pastors to lead Saint James. However, only one name on that list had the honor of being elected and consecrated the 105th Bishop of the AME Church. Bishop Vernon Randolph Byrd was elected from the pulpit of Saint James in 1984.[2]

Saint James was placed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places in 1972. By gaining landmark status and eligibility for monies designated for historic preservation, the church received a substantial grant of $1.3 million in 2000 awarded by the New Jersey Historic Trust. During the beautification work, services were held at nearby Arts High School for about nine months or so.[2]

Architecture

The church was built to represent a florid Gothic structure in the pointed style of the 14th century built wholly stone from the Little Falls by renowned architect John Welch. It is said to be one of his first projects upon coming to the United States. The interior presents a spacious and cheerful room, without galleries, relieved of any sepulchral effect by the unobtrusively rich stained glass windows, which temper the atmosphere into a soft mellow tone, without excluding too much light. The pews are invitingly arranged and cushioned with red, the carpets being of the same general tone. The pulpit is of elaborately carved oak, the wood work of the organ loft over the front vestibule and seats being of the same material. In the evening it is lighted with gas from side brackets, and gilt candelabra, with five burners each, rising at convenient intervals between the pews.[1][11]

The church is designed in a rectangular shape with the placement of the tower, piers and chancel in a style similar to the English fourteenth century decorative period. The building is constructed entirely of a hand-cut stone in an approximate facsimile of a Flemish bond. A centrally located tower on the facade is Norman in style with some early English elements. The building is on an east-west axis and has its front doors on a level with the sidewalk. The nave and rear addition reach back and down the steep hill so that the building appears to be quite large. The interior of the church, however, is not very large.[1][9]

The addition was a rear lecture hall built in 1890, beginning at the end of the side walls. Even though the rear building appears to be a large transept, it is in fact a separate building. The original part of the building extends from the front tower to the rear wall of the nave which serves as a central pulpit area. The entire rear of the building is in effect a separate building and contains rooms used for offices with a large lecture room in the upper stories that run at a high angle to the church nave. This building is constructed of brick and is faced with a brownstone similar to those found in the facade. Entrance to the building is provided from the nave and through separate outside doors. A cornerstone on the southeast corner bears the date 1890. A real attempt was made to use a facing stone like that found in the facade so that no real contrast exists.[1][9]

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex County, New Jersey

References

1. "National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form - St. James' A.M.E. Church". National Park Service. United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
2. "Church History". Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
3. "High Street Presbyterian Church Newark, Essex County". New Jersey Churchscape. Frank L. Greenagel. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
4. "First District Components". First Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
5. "Administrative Staff". St James' AME. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
6. "Our Pastor". St James' AME. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
7. "Ministerial Staff". St James' AME. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
8. "Meet Our Youth Leader". Saint James Youth/Young Adult Ministry. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
9. Kenneth B. Schnall (1965). "A survey of ecclesiastical architecture built in Newark from 1810-1865" (Church history) |format= requires |url= (help). OCLC 31303184. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
10. "St. James A.M.E. Church (High Street Presbyterian Church) (ID#1311)" (PDF). Historic Preservation Office New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places. NJ DEP. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
11. Newark Daily Advertiser. 3 September 1850. Missing or empty |title= (help)