First African Methodist Episcopal Church - - Athens, GA - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

The First African Methodist Episcopal Church is located at 521 North Hull Street (Tax Parcel No. 17-1-A6-D-004).

This one-story brick church reveals a medieval influence in its latin cross interior. Overhanging eaves and dormer windows accentuate the gabled roof, and a wood and brick belfry punctuates the west elevation. A gabled porch shelters the vestibule entrance at the belfry's base. Round-headed stained glass windows ornament the building, which retains its original hammer beamed roof and auditorium-style seating. A rear corridor connects the church to the education/community center building behind it.


Henry McNeal Turner, the first black appointed as an army chaplain, provided statewide leadership for the African Methodist church in Georgia and established many congregations. Organized in 1866, this church was named Pierce's Chapel in honor of the Reverend Lovick Pierce, a white minister who helped this congregation worship independently in a building on the Oconee River. The basement of this early church housed a school for adults and children, which served as a forerunner to the opening of the public school system in 1885. In December 1881, the congregation purchased the current site, which also included a building to be utilized as a parsonage. Macon architect L. H. Persley and Athens builder R. F. Walker formulated the plans and constructed the church in 1916. In 1969 urban renewal plans required demolition of the parsonage, and in 1973, an education/community center building was built on an adjoining lot. As a prominent institution within the black community, the church continues to house the oldest black congregation in Athens.

The First A. M. E. Church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (March 10, 1980).

Street address: 521 N Hull St Athens, GA 30601 County / Borough / Parish: Clarke Year listed: 1980 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture/Engineering Periods of significance: 1900-1924 Historic function: Religion: Religious Structure Current function: Religion: Religious Structure Privately owned?: yes Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Season start / Season finish: Not listed Hours of operation: Not listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   08/25/2006 ChapterhouseInc visited it

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