Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

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First Baptist

First Baptist Church, was located in the 300 block of North Tryon Street. The church can trace its history to 1832. In 1906, members decided that a new building was needed. The new church would include an auditorium that would seat over 1,000 people and would cost $50,000. Because the new building was to be located next door to the city's library, Andrew Carnegie agreed to donate $5,000 toward the purchase of an organ if First Baptist would use a design similar to that of the library.

Religious Denominations in Charlotte in 1900

Religious life plays an important role in the daily lives of most Charlotteans. Below is an estimate of the number of churches, both black and white, by denomination. Baptist Churches - 14 Catholic Church - 1 Congregational Church - 1 Episcopal Churches - 6 Jewish Synagogue - 1 Lutheran Churches - 3 Methodist Churches - 14 Presbyterian Churches - 13

Churches in Uptown Charlotte - note that the postcard mistakenly identifies the Tryon St. Methodist church as an "A. M. E." church

St. Mark's Lutheran Church

St. Mark's Lutheran remains the oldest Evangelical Lutheran Church in Charlotte. Worship services were first held in 1859. The church occupied a number of facilities, including the one seen here at 408  North Tryon Street before moving to its current location on Queens Road. Black Lutherans organized a church with the same name. It was at 510 South Davidson Street. Unfortunately, we do not have an image of that church.

First Baptist Church (Black congregation)

At one time, segregation-- either enforced or implied-- permeated every aspect of life in Charlotte, including in its churches. Prior to the Civil War, enslaved persons attended the First Baptist Church for whites. However, in 1867, two years after the Civil War,  the newly freedmen and women, sixty-six total,  no longer wanted to be forced to sit in the balcony of the white church. They  gathered under an oak tree on the grounds of the predominately white First Baptist Church of Charlotte to discuss their  future as a congregation.

Presbyterian Churches

The Scots Irish settlers established Presbyterian churches throughout the counties in the 1700s.  At the turn-of-the-century, there were two Presbyterian churches in Charlotte in uptown Charlotte.  First Presbyterian Church in Charlotte was organized in 1832. Originally a small church, that building was replaced with the completion of this beautiful structure on November 17, 1895.

Two St. Peter’s

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church began as a mission in 1834. It becomes a parish of the diocese ten years later. This is the second building for this church. Located on the corner of North Tryon and West 7th Streets, it was built between 1857 and 1858.  St. Peter’s Catholic Church is in the upper left hand corner of this postcard. The parish formed in 1851. This particular church building was completed in 1892.  

Number of Charlotte Churches in 1900

Religious life plays an important role in the daily lives of most Charlotteans. Below is an estimate of the number of churches, both black and white, by denomination.
Baptist Churches - 14
Catholic Church - 1
Congregational Church - 1
Episcopal Churches - 6
Jewish Synagogue - 1
Lutheran Churches - 3
Methodist Churches - 14
Presbyterian Churches - 13