Tag Archives: AME Church

The Community of Archery, Georgia

Founded in 1913, Archery sits on the Webster and Sumter county lines, not far from Plains, Georgia. A historic Black community, it was named for the Sublime Order of Archery, an AME Church relief fund that helped Black families. Bishop William Decker Johnson, Supreme Archer and organizer of the order, moved to the area to start a school and helped build the community.

The cornerstone on the right contains the name of Bishop Johnson, who helped found St. Mark AME Church

The community had an AME church, school, and store. Twenty-seven families called Archery, Georgia home. Former President Jimmy Carter lived in Archery for a few years as a child. His boyhood home and family farm is just down the road between Archery and Plains.

One of two homes still standing in Archery

St. Paul AME Church-Omaha, Georgia

The congregation of St. Paul AME Church in Omaha, Georgia, was founded in 1896. The church was built in 1900. Outside of some modifications, the congregation has used the same building since the church was built.

St. Mark’s AME Church-Atlanta, Georgia

Founded in 1895, St. Mark AME called the stone edifice on James Brawley Drive their second home after they lost their first building to fire in 1948. They took over the space after the Western Heights Baptist Church vacated the building.

The church was built in 1920 using Stone Mountain granite. Designed by architect Charles Hopson, the church was built by fitting the stone together like a puzzle instead of cutting them.

The church received landmark status in 2022.

Moses Chapel AME Chuch-Rutledge, Georgia

Moses Chapel AME Church was built in 1877 during a time when AME church congregations were popping up all across the country, especially in the South. Prior to the end of the Civil War, most congregations were in the North and Midwest, but as the Confederacy fell, newly freed Black men and women sought to start new churches. By 1880, there were almost 400,000 members of the AME church.

St. Paul AME Church-Dublin, Georgia

St. Paul AME Church was founded in 1877.

Martha Griffin Marker at Brownoh AME Church-Calhoun Falls, South Carolina

The marker of Martha Griffin (1874-1933) utilizes marbles set in concrete for a handmade headstone. Folk art headstones using marbles can frequently be found in rural church cemeteries.