325 North Augusta Street
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Last updated on November 21, 2024
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The Augusta Street United Methodist Church congregation was organized in 1866 and is one of the oldest black churches in Staunton. Prior to being organized, black Methodists worshiped in the Central Methodist Episcopal Church in Staunton. By 1861, 200 church members were black. The Central Church, however, did not have a stance against enslavement. Soon after the Civil War and the abolishment of slavery, a small group of African Americans began meeting at Hardy’s Carriage Shop to worship, and the John Wesley Chapel was organized. The congregation raised funds to purchase land to erect a new church. Land was purchased in 1866, and a place of worship was built on the corner of New and Prospect Streets. The “board and batten” church was completed in 1869 and housed a school in the basement. The cornerstone was laid in 1876 during the parsonage of the late Rev. W. H. DraperThe Church became known as the John Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church, and the congregation soon outgrew the building. Funds were raised to construct the present brick building on Augusta Street. The Church was referred to as the Augusta Street Methodist Episcopal Church and, in 1918, adopted the name officially during the pastorate of the late E. M. Mitchell . The Church entertained the Washington Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church four times. By 1969, all Black Annual Conferences phased out, and the Church joined the Virginia Annual Conference, and the United Methodist Church was formed. The Church changed its name for the fourth time to Augusta Street United Methodist Church.
