St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church, Minneapolis

Minneapolis’ St. James African Methodist Church is the oldest African American congregation and church in Minnesota. The congregation started meeting in 1860 for prayer meetings at Mr. and Mrs. Paul Brown’s home at 4th Street Southeast near 2nd Street Southeast in Saint Anthony. In addition to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Brown and their two daughters, Ms. Mattie Williams and Mr. Isaac Newton were present. It was formally organized in 1863 in Saint Anthony. Under the leadership of Reverend W. Hedgeman, they purchased their first house of worship in March 1869 from a former white church at 6th Avenue Southeast and 2nd Street. They later moved to a storefront location on Main Street and then to a hall over a feed store at 1st Avenue Southeast and 2nd Street Southeast. After two years, they moved across the river into Minneapolis into another storefront location at 411 5th Avenue South. St. Peter’s A.M.E. was organized during this time, having developed out of a Sunday School started by John Neal at St. James. Under Reverend Butler, St. James erected a red brick structure at 4th Street and 8th Avenue in 1892. They stayed there for a decade before the Rock Island Railroad expansion efforts pushed them out. St. James continued to regularly shift locations well into the twentieth century. In one year, the congregation moved four times. They began at a storefront church on 5th and 4th Avenues then moved to the corner of Bloomington and 26th Street. Next, they moved to 1306 6th Avenue North and then to 411 5th Avenue South. During this time, the congregation also experienced several shifts in pastorate leadership. Only a handful of followers remained in 1918 as most had left to join St. Peter’s A.M.E. Under Reverend J. T. Merritt, St. James purchased a former synagogue (pictured below) at 314 15th Avenue South and stayed in that location for 40 years. In 1926, membership totaled 136. Into the 40s, membership markedly declined. In 1956, the church transitioned to the Pillsbury Settlement House. In 1958, a structure was built at 3600 Snelling Avenue by Irwin H. Kilstofte under the leadership of Reverend Cleveland Duke Smalls. The congregation, Minnesota’s “Mother Church”, remains meeting there today.