Chartered in 1873, St. Joseph’s is the second oldest Episcopal congregation in Fayetteville.

St. Joseph’s was founded by black parishioners of St. John’s Episcopal Church who wanted to form their own parish. Its founding embodies the importance of the establishment of black congregations after the Civil War.

The congregation of St. Joseph's placed particular emphasis on their new school which began immediately. St. Joseph's Parochial School was probably the only source of education accessible to the majority of young blacks in the parish. This desire to promote education has played an integral part throughout St. Joseph's history.

Over the years, St. Joseph’s parishioners have continued to support education, partner with community groups, and spearhead many public services by making the facilities available to other organizations and events.

St. Joseph’s partnered with the City of Fayetteville Parks and Recreation Department to offer an organized recreation program, Moore Street Park, to underserved children in the downtown neighborhood. The program was operated on the parish grounds but maintained by the city.

W.E.B. Dubois held National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) meetings at St. Joseph’s when he would visit Fayetteville. The majority of all NAACP meetings for the area continued to be held at the parish even during the turbulent 1960’s. The church doors were also opened to the Episcopal Society for Cultural and Racial Unity (ESCRU) meetings during this time.

Before the construction of its own building in Fayetteville, the United Service Organization (USO) made its home in the parish. St. Joseph’s hosted a breakfast ministry which provided a nourishing breakfast to the homeless and the needy six days a week from 1987 to 2006.

St. Joseph’s parishioners have also made the facilities available to Fayetteville City Schools, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, E.E. Smith Alumni Association, Fayetteville Senior Ensemble, The Homeless Coalition, and training for ordination.

St. Joseph’s has continued to serve its congregation as a religious, educational, and community center since its founding.

More St. Joseph’s History:
Beginnings
Architecture
Fires and Rebuilding
Rectors
Members of Note