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St. Charles
African Methodist Episcopal Church
554 Madison Street
Open to public / Not Open to public
Not open to public
Jeremiah Fletcher Riggs purchased this land in 1855 and sold it for $100 to seven white trustees to erect a church for blacks and mulattos. The congregation were mostly enslaved citizens of mayor Ludwell Powell and other landowners. After the Civil War the trustees signed the land over to five black trustees for $1. They built the existing church by hand with handmade bricks. The building was used until 1868 when a larger church was constructed on Washington Street. In 1874, the building was sold to the Union Benevolent Society, a black religious organization, and in 1947, it was converted into a private residence.
SOURCE: The historical information presented on this page is adapted with permission from Discovering African American St. Louis: A Guide to Historic Sites by Dr. John A. Wright, Sr. We are honored to share his invaluable research and historical insights, made available through the generous consent of Dr. Wright and the Missouri Historical Society Press. Their dedication to preserving and celebrating the rich legacy of Black St. Louis is a gift to our community—a testament to those who came before us and a guide for those who walk the path forward.
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554 Madison Street