Greater St. Paul AME Church
Why it's listed
Greater St. Paul AME Church at 215 West 3rd Street in San Angelo is a simple rectangular brick veneer building completed in 1927. It sits on a raised basement of cast stone blocks beneath a medium-pitched roof. Wide stairs lead to a gabled entry porch carried on brick piers, and the double entry doors are topped by an elliptical arched fanlight. Round arched lights crown the auditorium windows. The congregation traces its origins to 1883, when Reverend J. W. Walker, a former soldier at Fort Concho, organized it. It was the first all Black church in San Angelo and helped found other churches in the city. The present building went up during a period of rapid growth and replaced a frame structure built around World War I. Located in a predominantly Black and Hispanic area, it has long been a community gathering place and a leading institution for Black residents. The building remains in good condition and retains its original site.
Significance in brief: The congregation was organized in 1883 and was the first all Black church in San Angelo, helping to establish other churches in the city. The 1927 building replaced an earlier frame church and has served as an important community building and institution for generations of the city's Black citizens.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 88002548, listed November 25, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 215 W. 3rd St., San Angelo |
|---|---|
| County | Tom Green County |
| Listed | November 25, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88002548 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Physical condition described as good; site is original. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.46541, -100.44281 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 88002548.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5600762
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.