Emanuel African Methodist Church

Established in 1817, Emanuel African Methodist Church is the oldest existing African Methodist Episcopal church in the Southern United States. The current structure was built in 1891. Preserving many of its original features including the altar, communion rail, pews, and light fixtures the church is one of only a few unaltered church interiors in Charleston.

The history of the congregation roots from a dispute on burial grounds when white leaders of Bethel Methodist approved construction of a hearse house over its black burial ground. In 1816, Black members of Charleston’s Methodist Episcopal church, under the leadership of Morris Brown, withdrew from the church and formed a separate congregation. Over 2,000 African American members of the Methodist churches of Charleston followed.