First African A.M.E. Church

601 New Street

City Directories and History: “The church was built in 1865 and given to freed slaves. A marble plaque on the church states: “Presented as a token of respect by A. D. Deas to the first and present pastor, Reverend A.

Photo by Gazie Nagle @ www.fineartbygazie.com

Waddell, of the First Baptist Church, a native of Savannah, Georgia, who became a pastor of said church First of January, 1865.”

African American picnic in Beaufort, S.C. – 1939. Courtesy of the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. The New York Public Library Digital Collections.

The frame church has a gable roof and an open return cornice. A one-story porch supported by six hexagonal columns spans the facade. The steeple, which rises from the porch roof, has lancet arch windows set in the first section that has a board and batten surface. The upper section of the steeple has circular vents centered in each side with the framing on the diagonal. The high, many-paned windows along the side and the doorways are all capped with pointed arches.”

Information from: Historic Resources of the Lowcountry, The Lowcountry Council of Government, Cynthia C. Jenkins, Preservation Planner – Published, 1979

Membership in R&R

Stay connected with R&R, “Explore S.C. history, historic houses, & family stories…” Sign up for a R&R membership. Members receive the “From the Porch” blog, updates on regional topics, and targeted notifications of their choice. Membership also includes travel opportunities: Carolina DeJaunts. Login and prioritize your specific points of enthusiasm: R&R Login. If you only wish to receive the “From the Porch” newsletter and no additional membership content, use the R&R Blog signup form.

User comments welcome – post at the bottom of this page.

Please enjoy this structure and all those listed in Roots and Recall. But remember each is private property. So view them from a distance or from a public area such as the sidewalk or public road.

Do you have information to share and preserve? Family, school, church, or other older photos and stories are welcome. Send them digitally through the “Share Your Story” link, so they too might be posted on Roots and Recall.

Thanks!