A Pioneering Church

This site of the St. James A.M.E.Zion Church is the oldest church serving Southport's African American community. St. James A.M.E.Z. congregation bought land for its first house of worship in 1866, on the northeast corner of of Rhett and East West streets, with Reverand Abram Smith as pastor. It was the town’s first black church and was originally named the Methodist Episcopal Church (col) of Smithville. The “col” identified the church as colored and distinguished it from the white Methodist church in town.