Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church

Duane's take

The official marker for Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church in Denton County: here's how I tell that story. In 1875, a group of black pioneers made a decision. They packed up, left the White Rock Community in Dallas, and moved to Denton County.

And when they got there, they didn't wait around for somebody else to name the place. They called it Freedman Town. That name carried weight, and they meant it to.

Now, settling new ground is hard enough on the body. But these pioneers understood something; you've got to tend to the spirit too. So before there was any church building, before there were pews or a proper pulpit, worship services, prayer groups, and Bible meetings were held right there in private homes.

Whatever roof they had, that was sanctuary enough. They weren't without guidance. A minister was already among them (the Reverend M.

P. Lambert), and he served those settlers, kept the faith alive in those early days. But then 1876 came around, and with it came the Reverend J.

B. Goins. And Reverend Goins came to organize.

He came to make it official. Out of that effort rose the St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church, with eighteen charter members standing at its founding.

Eighteen people. That's not a crowd. That's a covenant.

From that beginning, the fellowship grew into something Denton County would not forget; providing significant service and leadership to the community, woven deep into the religious heritage of this county. What started in private homes, in a settlement that had just found its name, became a cornerstone. And it's still standing.

What the marker says

In 1875 a group of black pioneers from the White Rock Community in Dallas moved to Denton County and named their settlement Freedman Town. Worship services, prayer groups, and Bible meetings were held in private homes. A minister among them, the Rev. M. P. Lambert, served the settlers until the Rev. J. B. Goins came in 1876 to organize the St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church. There were eighteen charter members in the congregation. The fellowship has provided significant service and leadership to the community and is an important part of the religious heritage of Denton County. (1985)