Emmanuel A.M.E Church

Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church also known as "Mother Emanuel" stands as the oldest African Methodist Episcopal church in the Southern region of the United States. In 1865, the name Emanuel was formally adopted in the church which means "God With Us" in Hebrew. The church was founded in 1818 by Denmark Vesey and Revered Morris Brown. It is built in the Gothic Revival architectural style and designed by John Henry Deveraux. As of 2008, the church holds a membership of over 1600 people.

The Emanuel AME Church was founded for the purpose to hold a safe meeting place for Black people to freely worship without white oppression. The church was established during a time when the law specified that churches must be led by white people. The very existence of the church was a symbol of resistance. Denmark Vesey, one of the founders of the Emanuel AME Church plotted most of his intended slave rebellion in the church along with many of its members. Ultimately, Vesey and other members were implicated for the largest planned slave revolt and executed for their crimes. Soon after their killings, the church was burned down by local white agitators and Black church congregations were outlawed. Nonetheless, secret congregations were held and support for the Underground Railroad was given by the church.

On June 17, 2015, the church was once again met with chaos and tragedy at the hands of white terrorism.  21-year-old Dylann Roof entered the church during a Wednesday night bible study meeting and murdered nine members including the pastor and state senator Clementa Pinckney.