Grace A.M.E. Zion Church

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Among the people responsible for the establishment of Grace A.M.E. Zion Church in 1886 was W. C. Smith. A native of Fayetteville, N.C., Smith entered the printing trade and became the publisher of the Charlotte Messenger, an African American newspaper that first appeared in June, 1882. A resolute prohibitionist, Smith wanted to withdraw from Clinton Chapel, the city's oldest A.M.E. Zion congregation, and establish a new church.

"The building of a new church is essential," Smith insisted, "to rid our youth of fogey ideas, sentiments, etc., and to bring them up to proper moral sentiments and religious beliefs."

Grace A. M. E. Zion Church became a prestigious institution in the African American community in the 1890's. A black visitor to Charlotte in 1893 wrote, "To say you belong to 'Grace,' signifies almost as much as it did at one time to say, "I am a Roman citizen." The cornerstone of Grace says it all. "Deo Religion Et Temperantiae" -- "God, Religion, and Temperance."

This is the end of the tour.

To return to the Square, walk to the end of the block, turn left on Fourth Street, go to Tryon Street, and turn right. You now know how historic Uptown Charlotte is.

The Historic Preservation Foundation also has produced a book that is a series of driving tours of historic sites through history-rich Mecklenburg County. The money from this book goes to support the work of the Foundation. If you are interested in buying this book, OR if you have comments about either the Uptown Walking Tour or Mecklenburg History, please send a e-mail to Dr. Dan Morrill, who also is consulting director of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission.

If you would like to read more about the history of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, go to the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room on the third floor of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Library at Sixth and North Tryon Streets. The staff will be happy to help you.

Related Sites

• A Historical Walking Tour of Charlotte
• Dr. Dan L. Morrill

Directions

• Uptown Walking Tour Map - North
• Uptown Walking Tour Map - South

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