St. James’ Church, Manhattan Plaque Dedication Remembering Enslaved Peoples, November 2019

On November 24, 2019, St. James’ dedicated a plaque remembering the enslaved peoples whose labor created wealth that helped found our parish in Hamilton Square, 1810. The text reads as Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” — John 8:32. In solemn remembrance of the enslaved persons whose labor created wealth that made possible the founding of St. James’ Church, Hamilton Square, 1810.   The forum that accompanied the dedication of the plaque was led by Sarah G. Cunningham, Ph.D., parishioner.   The documentation in the forum indicated that four of the six wardens were slave owners or engaged directly in slavery related businesses.  Also of the first 30 vestrymen, 1810-1831, 12 were enslavers or engaged directly in slavery-related businesses.

St. James has a connection with the Reverend Alexander Crummell, 1819-1898 an Episcopalian priest, missionary, and educator who founded the American Negro Academy in 1897, America’s first major black scholarly society. Boston Crummell, Alexander Crummell ‘s father asserted his own manumission from Peter Schermerhorn one of the first wardens of St. James.  He continued to live in the city as an oysterman and was an active abolitionist in New York City. Boston Crummell helped publish Freedom’s Journal, the first African-American newspaper .  He attended St. Philip’s Church where his son Alexander Crummell was mentored by the Reverend Peter Williams Jr., who was the historic first Black rector of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church and he pursued holy orders.

To review the information conveyed during the forum, please access the Closed-Caption Recording (click here), the St. James’ Church Involvement Handout (11.24.19), and the Slide Deck.