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

The congregation of St. Joseph’s, with the help of The Rev. Joseph Caldwell Huske, separated from St. John’s Episcopal Church to organize their own church for the benefit of people of African descent. The church was officially chartered in April 1873 at the Diocesan Convention.  Following his retirement from St. John’s, Fr. Huske became the first rector of St. Joseph’s.

St. Joseph’s present location is the third location where the congregation has worshipped. The first one was a small, rented church at the foot of Haymount Hill. The second location was on the north side of Russell Street between Gillespie and Anderson Streets. 

Fr. Huske worked diligently with Miss Charlotte McNeill to obtain a permanent space for St. Joseph’s.  They gained financial help from Eva Smith Cochran (Mrs. W. F.) of Yonkers, New York. Mrs. Cochran purchased the present property on Ramsey Street, which was down the road from her own estate, Myrtle Hill. Mrs. Cochran also donated the funds to build the church, school and rectory which broke ground in 1896. 

On Sunday, March 28, 1897, the church was consecrated by The Rt. Rev. Dr. Alfred Augustine Watson, the first Bishop of the Diocese of East Carolina.