St.James Church was founded in 1861 according to the plaque above. That year the blacks living in Fayetteville requested a pastor be assigned from the Arkansas and Missouri Methodist Conference. The following year a minister was assigned to what became St James Methodist Episcopal Church. The current chapel building was finished in 1884. Stained glass windows were added in the 1940's.

In recent years a more complete restoration has been carried out under leadership of Rev. Gary Lunsford.

Bibliography:
"A Celebration of Endurance" Fayetteville's St.James United Methodist Church by Brent E. Riffel Flashback Autumn 2005

Click here for a map to St James UM Church