AME Zion missionaries organized the loose-knit congregation into Clinton Chapel AME Zion Church in 1864 and began, near the corner of South Mint and Stonewall streets, the most influential black movement in the city's history.

As freed slaves began separating from their masters' congregations in 1865, black churches became what many remain today: centers of spiritual, educational, cultural and political life.

"For the first time, blacks could do for themselves what they could not do in white churches, where they were restricted to the balcony," says the Rev. Retoy Gaston, pastor of Clinton Chapel AME Zion, now on Rozzelle's Ferry Road.

"They could hold a morning service, speak out, serve in leadership positions."

In 1866, blacks left the balcony of First Presbyterian Church and, with the help of white missionaries, formed the area's first black Presbyterian congregation, now First United Presbyterian Church.

In 1867, former slaves left the white Southern Baptist church to start their own church, now First Baptist West.

A string of others followed suit until, in 1896, Charlotte had more black churches than white. Those churches formed the bridge to Charlotte's first black schools, social halls, publishing houses and political meeting places.