Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church

The Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church is a historic church and congregation at 419 South 6th Street in Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The congregation, founded in 1794, is the oldest African Methodist Episcopal congregation in the nation. Its present church, completed in 1890, is the oldest church property in the United States to be continuously owned by African Americans.[3] It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1972.[1]

Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
Location419 S. 6th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates39.94332°N 75.15186°W / 39.94332; -75.15186
Built1890
ArchitectUnknown
Architectural styleRomanesque
NRHP reference No.72001166[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMarch 16, 1972
Designated PHMCMarch 19, 1991[2]

History of the congregation

The church was organized by African-American members of St. George's Methodist Church who walked out due to racial segregation in the worship services. Mother Bethel was one of the first African-American churches in the United States, dedicated July 29, 1794, by Bishop Francis Asbury. On October 12, 1794, Reverend Robert Blackwell announced that the congregation was received in full fellowship in the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1816 Rev Richard Allen brought together other black Methodist congregations from the region to organize the new African Methodist Episcopal Church denomination. He was elected bishop of this denomination. After the American Civil War, its missionaries went to the South to help freedmen and planted many new churches in the region.

In 1838, the building was damaged during the riots that followed the destruction of Pennsylvania Hall.

Allen and his wife, Sarah Allen are both buried in the present church's crypt.[4] The current church building was constructed in 1888-1890, and it has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

External video
Mother Bethel AME Church - Philadelphia, PA, Wanda Kaluza, 2:54

Building history

The property was acquired for the new congregation in 1794. Its first building was a frame structure originally used as a blacksmith's shop, which was hauled to the site. This building was later replaced by frame structures in 1805 and 1841. The 1841 church was reported to have a tunnel connecting it with a nearby Quaker meetinghouse to facilitate the movements of fugitive slaves. The present building, completed in 1890, is a three-story masonry structure with Romanesque styling. Its large round-arch windows are adorned with stained glass from Germany.[5]

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See also
  • Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church Historical Marker
  • National Historic Landmark Plaque
  • Richard Allen Historic Plaque
  • Free African Society Historical Marker

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. "PHMC Historical Markers". Historical Marker Database. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  3. Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church
  4. "Sarah Allen". World Biography. Encyclopedia of World Biography. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  5. "NHL nomination for Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church". National Park Service. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
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