St. James AME Church

St. James AME Church is a Gothic Revival building in New Orleans featuring pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses characteristic of the style. The structure stands on N. Roman Street and displays these decorative and structural elements throughout its design.

The congregation was established in 1844 as the first African Methodist Episcopal church in the Deep South region. The building itself was constructed in 1848 by architects Diboll & Owen and gained recognition on the National Register in 1982.

This congregation has served as a gathering place for African American worship and community life in New Orleans for generations. The space remains central to local religious practice and neighborhood connections today.

The church is located on N. Roman Street in downtown New Orleans and is easy to find in the area. Visitors should keep in mind this is an active place of worship, so appropriate behavior and possibly contacting ahead is recommended.

The building was designed by architects Diboll & Owen and later appeared as a filming location in a modern movie production. This connection between a historic site and contemporary popular culture makes it a special example of how historical architecture continues to be valued today.

Location: Louisiana

Architectural style: Gothic Revival

GPS coordinates: 29.96083,-90.07861

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:22