City: Fernandina Beach   County: Nassau   Year: 2023
Location: 202 South 9th Street

Side One: In 1870, Samuel Irving came to Florida from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with a vision for an African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Fernandina Beach. That year, Irving started a prayer meeting in the name of the AME Church. In 1872, under the leadership of the Rev. John R. Scott, Sr., the prayer group organized into Macedonia AME Church. The congregation built a church building on the corner of Seventh and Beech streets and installed a bell. The church bell rang whenever someone died, and every Sunday morning, inviting anyone who heard it to come worship. In 1899, under the leadership of the Rev. J.T. Mark, the congregation moved into a newly built church, on the corner of Ninth and Beech streets. When Macedonia was constructed, there were two entrance doors at the front of the church with no center door. Instead, there was a right entrance and a left entrance. In 1936, to accommodate the undertakers with easy access into the sanctuary during a funeral, double doors were installed at the center. Side Two: The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) denomination was founded and organized by people of African descent in 1816, under the leadership of Bishop Richard Allen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The foundation of the AME theology was uniquely based on the social and educational needs as well as the welfare of its congregants. During the Reconstruction era, the Rev. John R. Scott, Sr., and other early AME Church leaders were the first to bring the denomination to the South. In 1865, the Rev. William G. Stewart founded the first AME Church in Florida, known as “Mother Midway” in Jacksonville. From there, the denomination spread throughout North Florida. AME Churches formed in Tallahassee, Marianna, Lake City and other areas, with many being organized by Stewart directly. In Fernandina, Scott organized Macedonia’s trustees to purchase the land and erect the first church building. Macedonia AME Church continues to be a center of worship and fellowship in historically African American neighborhoods of Fernandina.