Historic African American Churches
Courtesy US National Park Service
Historic African American Churches By State
Explore by State:
The African American Church has long been considered one of the foundational and most influential institutions in black America. This page is dedicated to highlighting the oldest of these institutions in states across the nation. Listed below are African American churches by state which are at least one century old (founded in 1919 or earlier) and which are continuously operating until today. In other words, one can attend service next Sunday in any church on this list. The oldest continuously operating church in each state is listed in Bold.Â
We at BlackPast.org admit that this list is incomplete and that it will continue to grow over time. If your church is not on this list please consider writing a 500 to 550 word entry for its inclusion. If you are interested, please contact BP@blackpast.org. Do not send in information on your church without contacting BlackPast first. Your entry must conform to the website’s guidelines before it can be added to the list. Nonetheless, we invite church members across the United States to add a profile of your house of worship to BlackPast.
ALABAMA
Decatur
First Missionary Baptist Church of Decatur
Huntsville
St. Bartley Primitive Baptist Church, 1808-
Montgomery
Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, 1883-
ARKANSAS
Little Rock
First Missionary Baptist Church, 1845-
CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles
First A.M.E. Church, 1872-
Oakland
First A.M.E. Church, 1858-
Sacramento
St. Andrews A.M.E. Church, 1850-
San Jose
Antioch Baptist Church, 1893-
COLORADO
DELAWARE
Wilmington
Ezion-Mount Carmel United Methodist Church, 1789-Â
Florida
Jacksonville
Bethel Baptist Institutional Church, ca. 1865-
ILLINOIS
Alton
Salem Baptist Church, 1819-
Brooklyn
Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, c. 1830-Â
Chicago
Olivet Baptist Church, 1850-
IOWA
Des Moines
Burns United Methodist Church, 1866-
KANSAS
Topeka
St. John A.M.E., 1868-
KENTUCKY
LOUISIANA
New Orleans
St. Augustine Catholic Church, 1841
MARYLAND
Baltimore
Bethel A.M.E., 1785-
St. Xavier Catholic Church, 1836-
MASSACHUSETTS
Boston
African Baptist Church, 1805-
Columbus Avenue AME Church, 1838-
MICHIGAN
MISSISSIPPI
MISSOURI
St. Louis
First Baptist Church, 1817
NEVADA
Las Vegas:
Berkely Square
The Berkely Square subdivision, which is located in the area historically known as Las Vegas’ Westside, consists of 148 Contemporary Ranch-style homes designed by internationally-known African American architect Paul R. Williams. It was built between 1954 and 1955 and was the first minority (African American) built subdivision in Nevada.
Moulin Rouge Hotel
This was the first interracial hotel built in Las Vegas, constructed in 1955, at a time when black performers and visitors were denied access to casino and hotel dining areas and were forced to seek accommodation in black boarding houses. Despite the community’s aims to preserve the site, all that remains of the structure are two pillars in an empty lot.
Reno:
Bethel AME Church
This church was a religious, social, and political center of the African American community, initially for black settlers in Reno, Nevada, in the 1910s and later for local civil rights activists during the 1960s.
NEW JERSEY
Elsinboro
Mt. Pisgah A.M.E., 1754-
*Oldest Continuously Operating African American Church in the United States*
NEW MEXICO
Albuquerque
Grant Chapel AME Church, 1883-
Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 1899-
Las Cruces
Phillips Chapel CME Church, 1911-
OHIO
OKLAHOMA
OREGON
Portland
Bethel A.M.E. Church, 1889-
TEXAS
Corpus Christi
Holy Cross Catholic Church, 1914-
El Paso
Second Baptist Church, El Paso-1884
Houston
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church,
1868-
San Antonio
St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, 1888-
UTAH
Salt Lake City
Trinity A.M.E. Church, 1890-
VIRGINIA
Falls Church, Virginia
Galloway United Methodist Church, 1867-
Petersburg
First African Baptist Church, 1756-
Richmond
First Baptist Church, 1780-
WASHINGTON
Seattle
First A.M.E. Church, 1886-
Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 1890-
Spokane
Cavalry Baptist Church, 1890-
WEST VIRGINIA
WISCONSIN
Milwaukee
St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, 1869-Â
