St. Mark's Chapel A.M.E. Church, Kingston

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“The Little White Church” 

The origins of St. Mark’s Chapel trace to the broader expansion of the African Methodist Episcopal Church across the United States. As this movement spread, its influence reached Kingston, New York, where a group of believers felt the need for a place of prayer and worship.

Early gatherings were held in the home of Mrs. Mary Tenbrouck in the Village of Rondout. By 1852, meetings were also held in the home of Anthony Sevoy, where formal steps toward organizing a church were taken under the leadership of Rev. William Hutchings.

On July 26, 1853, the church was incorporated as the African Union Church of the Town of Kingston. This marked the formal establishment of a congregation that had already been taking shape through faithful gathering and shared purpose.

In 1871, land at 12 Foxhall Avenue was purchased from Mr. and Mrs. Ely Every, and a modest structure—known affectionately as the “little white church”—was erected. The congregation worshipped there faithfully for many decades.

In 1902, the church petitioned to change its name. On September 8 of that year, it formally adopted the name “St. Mark’s Chapel,” aligning itself with the African Methodist Episcopal Church. By September 11, 1902, the legal corporate name became St. Mark’s Chapel A.M.E. Church.

During the mid-20th century, the congregation faced a legal challenge regarding ownership of the Foxhall Avenue property. The matter was settled by the Supreme Court of Ulster County, which affirmed that St. Mark’s Chapel retained rightful ownership of both the church and the land.

In 1967, the Foxhall Avenue property was sold to make way for the construction of Kingston Hospital. Under the leadership of Rev. Alfred Banks, the congregation purchased its present building at 72 Wurts Street, where it has continued to worship.

The building, originally constructed in 1861 as the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, became the new home of St. Mark’s. Over time, the church secured recognition as a historic landmark on both the National and State Registers.

Through every transition, St. Mark’s has remained a faithful witness—carrying forward its legacy from the “little white church” into a new season of ministry.

The following pastors have served as under-shepherds of St. Mark’s Chapel A.M.E. Church:

• Rev. Alfred Banks
• Rev. Alfonso Sherald
• Rev. Anthony Jackson
• Rev. James Waters
• Rev. Carrie Nobles
• Rev. Micah Chandler
• Rev. Lorraine Bradley
• Rev. Horace Cromer
• Rev. Faye Banks Taylor