The First Black Mega-Church. Pastor James Holmes preaches to his huge Richmond congregation in 1874.
This church building was also used for political gatherings and conventions including, the last speech by Confederate President Jefferson Davis before the capture of Richmond by Union forces. However, as the illustration suggests, the edifice could not accommodate Holmes ever-growing congregation, so plans were developed to tear down the historic building to erect a much larger church, which was dedicated in October 1877. Harper’s Weekly, June 27, 1874.