Church History

​​The St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church was established in 1912 under the leadership of the Reverend Wilma M. Mitchell, who was guided by the Holy Spirit for this mission. He called his neighbors in the Schroeder Hill Community in Northwest Gadsden County, of Quincy, Florida, together for a revival meeting that was held in a tenant house on a tobacco farm. During that revival meeting sixteen (16) persons accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. These people were baptized, and began to worship together for several months in that tenant house. The church was affiliated with the Florida Annual Conference of the AME Church and became known as the Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church.

 

The church relocated to McKowan Quarters on the corner of West Clark and Clay Streets in Quincy, Florida. In 1915, a new and larger facility was built on the corner of Brumby and Kent Streets. During that period, Brother Robert “Bob” Range was the designated bell-ringer for the church. Brother Range would come to the church every Sunday morning at 9 AM to ring the bell to signal to the people that it was time to make their way to the church for worship.

In addition to Rev. Wilma M. Mitchell, other Pastors--the Reverends G. B. Williams, J. Hackley, S. D. Cooper, W. H. Torrence, E. Nathan, A. W. Sanders, K. S. DuPont, Willie Jones, F. H. Ashe, A. R. McGlockton, E. J. Evans, Alexander Sherman, Willie J. Thomas, A. J. Davis, Charles Cloy, Henry R. Griffin, Oliver Simmons, Lee E. Plummer, Tony O. Hannah, Pearce Ewing, and Jessica Muse have led the congregation into significant numerical, financial, and spiritual growth. 

In April 2020, due to the global CoVid19 pandemic, St. James implemented the use of the free conference calling system for its worship services and business meetings and later transitioned to Zoom, except for the Community Noon Day Prayer Line which is still being held on free conference call on Wednesdays.

When the pandemic was no longer a severe threat, the church re-opened for in-person worship service on Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022,  the Zoom platform was still being made available for members and others who chose to attend services virtually.