Overview

St. James AME Church is the first African American congregation in Minneapolis and Minnesota.   

• Location: 3600 Snelling Avenue 
• Neighborhood: Howe

Guidelines

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Historic profile

St. James African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church is the first African American congregation in Minneapolis and Minnesota. The congregation has used this location at 3600 Snelling Avenue since 1959. St. James AME Church is both a spiritual and social home for community members. 

A group of freed African Americans founded the congregation in 1860 in St. Anthony. They met at the home of Paul Brown, his wife, and their two daughters, located at 4th Avenue Southeast and 2nd Street. The group grew as other African Americans migrated to what is now Minneapolis. They formally organized the First African Methodist Church in March 1863. They later renamed as St. James AME Church.  

The church has used a variety of locations in its history. They faced financial limitations as well as restrictive and unjust real estate practices. From 1869 to 1874, they worshipped in a small white frame building at 6th Avenue Southeast and 2nd Street. The first pastor was Reverend W. Hedgeman. The church did not own the property and was forced to relocate in 1874. By the late 1870s, they were able to build a new church at 115 2nd Street Southeast. Due to financial issues, they had to leave their new building.  

After several location changes, they built a new church in 1902 at 315 8th Avenue South. However, a railroad was built directly behind the church, which caused them to move again. In 1918, they bought a former synagogue at 314 15th Avenue South. They remained there until they moved to their current location.