Source: Paul Vozdic / Getty
History of Charleston's "Mother Emanuel" A.M.E. Church as presented on its own site: http://t.co/qPJcEzbPz9 pic.twitter.com/GCOEaXRXU1
— Robert McNamara (@history1800s) June 18, 2015
A tragedy still unfolding has thrust “Mother” Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina into the spotlight, as well as its pastor, Rev. Clementa Pinckney.
Scroll down to see a video of Rev. Pinckney recounting highlights of the church’s amazing history.
This historic congregation — one of the first A.M.E. congregations, has seen its share of hardship over the past two centuries, with faith and fortitude seeing it through the darkest days. Here are 10 facts you need to know about the church and its now deceased pastor, to understand Mother Emanuel’s unique place in American history:
1) In 1816 Black members of Charleston’s Methodist Episcopal Church withdrew over disputed burial grounds and under the leadership of Morris Brown, formed a circuit of 3 churches of people of color affiliated with the newly established African Methodist Episcopal Church. Emanuel’s congregation grew out of the Hampstead Church, located at Reid and Hanover Streets.
2) In 1822 the church was investigated for its involvement with a planned slave revolt.Denmark Vesey, one of the church’s founders, had organized plans for a major slave uprising in Charleston. The plot was foiled by an informant, and Vesey was hanged, along with 36 enslaved people.
3) As a result of the revolt plot, Emanuel AME Church was burned, and laws were passed in a number of southern states restricting the movement of Black people.
4) Parishioners rebuilt the church after fire and worshipped there until 1834, when South Carolinaoutlawed all-Black churches.
5) The congregation had to continue worshipping underground until 1865, when the church formally reorganized. It was then that the name “Emanuel” ( meaning “God is with us”) was adopted.
6) Richard Harvey Cain, who served South Carolina as a Republican representative to Congress from 1873–1875 and 1877–1879, had led Emanuel after the Civil War. During his tenure the church was “one of the strongest political organizations in the state.”
7) Today Emanuel A.M.E. is the oldest AME church in the South.
8) It houses the oldest Black congregation south of Baltimore.
9) The current church building is a Gothic Revival-style structure built in 1891.
10) The current pastor is Clementa “Clem” C. Pinckney, who is a Democratic state senatorin South Carolina. Born July 30, 1973 in Beaufort, S.C., he has served in the state senate since 2000, and before that he served in the state house of representatives. His wife is Jennifer Benjamin and his 2 children are named Eliana and Malana.
USA Today is reporting that Pickney is among the casualties of a mass shooting at Mother Emanuel A.M.E.
Hear about the inspiring history of Mother Emanuel A.M.E. in the words of the late Rev. Pinckney, in his introductory remarks in the video below:
SEE ALSO: Multiple Victims In South Carolina Church Shooting, Suspect In Custody
SOURCES:
U.S. House of Representatives: History, Art and Archives
National Park Service: Charleston Historic, Religious and Community Buildings
Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church: “Mother Emanuel” A.M.E. Church History
Gettysburg College: The Vesey Revolt
On Borrowed Ground: Free African-American life in Charleston, South Carolina 1810-61
ARTICLE FROM: NewsOne.com
Article Courtesy of USA Today, U.S. House of Representatives:History, Art and Archives, National Park Service: Charleston Historic, Religious and Community Buildings, Emanuel African Methodist: “Mother Emanuel” A.M.E. Church History, Gettysburg College: The Vesey Revolt, On Borrowed Ground: Free African-American Life in Charleston, South Carolina 1810-61, South Carolina Statehouse, and News One
First Picture Courtesy of Getty Images and News One
Second Picture and Tweet Courtesy of Twitter and News One
First Video Courtesy of YouTube and News One
Second Video Courtesy of News Inc, Inform, and News One
10 Facts About Historic “Mother” Emanuel AME Church And Its Pastor Clementa Pinckney was originally published on wzakcleveland.com
