A Legacy Built in Faith and Brick: The Story of Pastor George A. Rue and Rue Chapel

NBHS Historian/Claudia Houston

In the heart of New Bern, North Carolina, stands a church built not just with bricks, but with faith, vision, and resilience — characteristics that reflect those of its remarkable pastor, George A. Rue.  Born around 1820 in New Bern to Hannah Rue, a freewoman, and Bristow Rue, an enslaved man, George A. Rue's life was shaped from the start by both hardship and spiritual strength.

By the early 1850s, Rue, a freedman property owner and skilled mechanic, moved north with his family to New Haven, Connecticut. Though he had been licensed to preach at Andrew Chapel in New Bern, he appeared in the New Haven City Directory in 1852 as Reverend George Rue. He joined the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and was ordained a deacon in 1855. By 1860, he was leading a congregation in Newport, Rhode Island, where he preached and advocated for the abolition of slavery.

On January 1, 1863, Rue was in Boston with Frederick Douglass, eagerly awaiting the public announcement and reading of the Emancipation Proclamation. When the news arrived, Rue lifted his voice in song.

During the Civil War, Rue wanted to return to New Bern and bring the members of Andrew Chapel into the AME Church, but was unable to cross military lines. Meanwhile, Reverend James Walker Hood found a way to enter New Bern, where he convinced the congregation of Andrew Chapel to join the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME Zion) Church — the first of its kind in the South.

After the war ended, Rue finally returned to New Bern in 1865. He founded what he called Bethel Methodist Church, which would later become known as Rue Chapel AME Church, sometime after his death. With the help of others, Rue constructed a modest Sunday School building and quickly became a civic leader. He represented New Bern at the North Carolina Freedmen’s Conventions in 1865 and 1866, helping to shape a new path for freed African Americans. He was also a founding member of King Solomon Masonic Lodge in New Bern, despite controversy surrounding Black Freemasonry at the time.

Tragically, Pastor Rue died of yellow fever on December 22, 1866, at the age of 46. His friend, Rev. James Walker Hood, delivered his eulogy. Rue was buried with full Masonic honors in Greenwood Cemetery, accompanied by a brass band and a long procession of mourners — a fitting farewell for a man who had devoted his life to faith and community.

Rue Chapel did not own the space where worship was taking place. Recognizing the need for a permanent space, Rue’s friend George B. Willis purchased land at Cypress Street and Bragg Alley (now Howard Street) from Dr. R.S. Primrose. There, they built the first Rue Chapel, which stood proudly until the Great Fire of 1922 destroyed the building. Only the cornerstone and bell survived. Services continued under tents until 1923, when the congregation bought land at Oak and Elm Streets for $1,650. They began again — this time building with brick. Worship services were held in the basement while the upper sanctuary was being completed.

In 1939, the New Bern Housing Authority condemned the property to make way for public housing. Undeterred, members of Rue Chapel salvaged each brick from the old church, cleaned them by hand, and rebuilt at a new site. The cornerstone for the current sanctuary was laid on September 1, 1941.

Rue Chapel AME Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. Today, the church remains a symbol of faith, perseverance, and unity within the community. The dream of Pastor George A. Rue, born with hope and built with hands and faithful hearts, continues to inspire current generations in New Bern.