Join us for the 2026 Amen Tour of Historic Black Churches!
Join us for a new tradition, the Amen Tour of Historic Black Churches, a walking tour of three of Columbus’ most storied historic congregations.
Visit St. Paul AME, Second Baptist, and Shiloh Baptist — the Mother Churches of Columbus’ Black community. Expert architectural historians will share the rich histories of these landmark buildings and the congregations that have served as their caretakers for generations, while musical performances bring these extraordinary spaces to life
Saturday, May 30, 2026
11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Tour begins at Shiloh Baptist Church, 720 Mt Vernon Ave, Columbus, OH 43203
Tickets
Tickets for the Amen Tour are donation based so you may choose what you wish to give during registration and/or during the tour itself.
This event is up to members and the public alike and advanced registration is required.
Proceeds from this event are shared equally between Columbus Landmarks’ historic preservation efforts and the participating churches.
Event FAQs
Parking: Free parking is available at Shiloh Baptist Church. The tour is intended for walking, however, for those not able to walk you are able to find limited parking at each location.
COTA: There are several stops near Shiloh Baptist Church on the #7 and #9 COTA busses; see the map below for more information.
Participating Churches and Partners
St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church
- 639 East Long Street, Columbus, OH, United States, 43215
- stpaulamecolumbusohio.org
Founded in 1823, St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church is the oldest Black congregation in Columbus. Originally called Bethel Methodist Church, it was begun in a small log cabin structure. Having outgrown several structures, the congregation found a home in the current building in 1906. The Romanesque Revival building has an asymmetrical facade of two uneven-height towers connected by the deep-set entry. The painted brick masonry is highlighted by stone accents. The large rose window provides a Gothic-Revival element to the building.
Second Baptist Church
- 186 N 17th Street, Columbus, OH, United States, 43203
- secondbaptistcolumbus.com
Founded in 1836 as the oldest Black Baptist Church in Columbus, Second Baptist served as a stop on the Underground Railroad and counts among its pastors James Poindexter, a prominent abolitionist leader in the city. The current church building, designed by Frank Packard, was dedicated in 1908. It features the Jacobethan style that uses red brick to recreate the common Tudor revival and Elizabethan details, including Tudor arches and the asymmetrical facade.
Shiloh Baptist Church
- 720 Mt Vernon Ave, Columbus, OH 43203
- facebook.com/Shiloh1869/
Founded in 1869 as a reaction to the growing population on the East Side of town, Shiloh Baptist began meeting in a rented space at Gay and Fourth Streets. Two more moves, and the church constructed its present building in 1923. James Burks designed the building and uses more traditional Gothic Revival style. The windows feature heavy tracery and details, and the arches are more pointed. The building is red brick with limestone details. Shiloh Baptist Church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
