Richard Allen, the founder and first bishop of the AME Church, was born a slave in 1760 and later purchased he and his first wife's freedom. It was in 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that negro worshipers at St. George's Methodist Episcopal Church, were treated unjustly when white worshipers and church leaders pulled them from their knees while praying at the altar. Negroes were permitted to worship at St. George's and had done so for years but were restricted to the balcony. This was a historical walk-out.
However, Richard and Sarah Allen, along with Absolom Jones and others, did not walk out with the intent to start a new church. Years passed before the decision had been made and the framework for the first organized church for those of African decent was established. Richard Allen was also a legitimate business owner. He among others were the first of African decent to establish the Free African Society.
This was a support for freed slaves who needed assistance burying loved ones, learning to read, manage finances, and developing morally and ethically. Out of the Free African Society, the African Methodist Episcopal Church had been birthed. The first location for worship was held in a blacksmith shop, one of the lucrative businesses established under the Free African Society. This is the primary reason why the anvil (pictured beneath the cross behind Richard Allen in the photo to the left) is significant to the AME Church. The anvil was an extremely heavy weight of metal used as a base where steel was laid so that all of it's imperfection were hammered out. This is symbolic to our faith.
The final location and what has been established as Mother Bethel AME Church is located at 419 South 6th St. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where Bishop Richard Allen, Sarah Allen, and Bishop Morris Brown's remains are in a tomb in historic museum housed on the grounds of Mother Bethel AME Church, which is in the 1st Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The current pastor of Mother Bethel is Dr. Mark Kelley Tyler.
However, Richard and Sarah Allen, along with Absolom Jones and others, did not walk out with the intent to start a new church. Years passed before the decision had been made and the framework for the first organized church for those of African decent was established. Richard Allen was also a legitimate business owner. He among others were the first of African decent to establish the Free African Society.
This was a support for freed slaves who needed assistance burying loved ones, learning to read, manage finances, and developing morally and ethically. Out of the Free African Society, the African Methodist Episcopal Church had been birthed. The first location for worship was held in a blacksmith shop, one of the lucrative businesses established under the Free African Society. This is the primary reason why the anvil (pictured beneath the cross behind Richard Allen in the photo to the left) is significant to the AME Church. The anvil was an extremely heavy weight of metal used as a base where steel was laid so that all of it's imperfection were hammered out. This is symbolic to our faith.
The final location and what has been established as Mother Bethel AME Church is located at 419 South 6th St. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where Bishop Richard Allen, Sarah Allen, and Bishop Morris Brown's remains are in a tomb in historic museum housed on the grounds of Mother Bethel AME Church, which is in the 1st Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The current pastor of Mother Bethel is Dr. Mark Kelley Tyler.
"Bethel" means house of God. (In return for God's favor to him, Jacob promised to be loyal in his devotion and generous in his offerings. He named the place where he met God, Bethel.) Genesis 28:16-22.
The AME Church is the oldest organized church denomination founded and established by
men and women of African decent but this in no way means that our church is a
church that ministers only to African Americans.
Methodist simply means that there is an order or "method" by which we do things.
The origins of Methodism can be traced back to John Wesley.
Episcopal means that our church denomination is run by a group of bishops.
Bethel is part of the 3rd Episcopal District of the AME Church.
Our district consists of Ohio, West Virginia, and part of Pennsylvania. There are 20 districts, of which districts 1-13 are in the U.S. and districts 14-20 are overseas, including various countries in South Africa, Haiti, and India.
The AME Church is the oldest organized church denomination founded and established by
men and women of African decent but this in no way means that our church is a
church that ministers only to African Americans.
Methodist simply means that there is an order or "method" by which we do things.
The origins of Methodism can be traced back to John Wesley.
Episcopal means that our church denomination is run by a group of bishops.
Bethel is part of the 3rd Episcopal District of the AME Church.
Our district consists of Ohio, West Virginia, and part of Pennsylvania. There are 20 districts, of which districts 1-13 are in the U.S. and districts 14-20 are overseas, including various countries in South Africa, Haiti, and India.
