One of the last remaining architectural gems on Newark's Martin Luther King Boulevard, the building that houses St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church has served as a religious cornerstone of the surrounding community since its construction in 1850. The church was the first American design project of world-renowned architect John Welch after his arrival in the United States. Welch found inspiration in the Gothic styles of fourteenth-century England and decorated the church interior with sixteen stained glass windows, painted wooden ceilings, and elaborate plaster carvings. Architects Carrere and Hastings designed an east wing addition in 1890.

In the early 1990s, concern for roof leaks led the staff to initiate emergency repairs to protect the stained glass and interior woodwork from water damage, and the church subsequently undertook a $1.3 million rehabilitation effort, supported by a $450,000 revolving loan from the New Jersey Historic Trust, the largest loan from the Revolving Loan Fund to date. The building's preservation program included the replacement of the slate roof, masonry and stained glass repairs, including the restoration of a large "rose" window designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany.

In 2000, St. James A.M.E. Church received a New Jersey Historic Preservation Award.

The 3,000-member congregation sponsors a vast array of social services, including a health clinic, summer camp, and preparatory school.

For more information, visit: http://www.stjamesamenwk.com