On my way to shoot another of the old homes I turned a corner and of course spotted a big beautiful church. Camera up, and shooting.

However then I recognized the church.

Mother Emanuel is the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Founded in 1817, Emanuel AME is the oldest African Methodist Episcopal church in the Southern United States. This, the first independent black denomination in the United States, was founded in 1816.

In June 1822, Denmark Vesey of Charleston, one of the church’s founders, was implicated in an alleged slave revolt plot. Vesey and five other organizers were rapidly convicted in a show trial, and executed on July 2 after a secret trial.

Dr. Martin Luther King spoke here to support black voter registration in 1962. Earlier in 1909 Booker T. Washington spoke here bringing both white and black national politicians together.

Finally, June 17, 2015 historic of another kind came to Mother Emanuel. During an evening bible study a young man, Dylan Roof joined the group. Nine people were shot and killed by Roof after he sat with them. A manifesto of hate and white supremacy was found on his web site later.

Just to add a bit more to this story…

We looked up and found a Red-tailed Hawk looking down over Charleston.

There’s always a critter around when you need one.

For additional information click here… Mother Emanuel