Black History Month: 8 historically significant African American churches

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Bethel Church, later dubbed Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1794 by Methodist preacher and former slave Richard Allen.

Allen founded the church and the AME denomination in response to some of the racist sentiment he experienced in the predominantly white Methodist Episcopal Church.

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"Facing interference from other Methodist congregations, Allen successfully fought in court for the right of Bethel to exist as an independent congregation," states PhillyHistory.org.

"In 1816, Bethel joined with other black Methodist congregations to found the African Methodist Episcopal Church in America. Bethel became Mother Bethel and Allen was appointed the first bishop of the church."

The influential congregation was active in the surrounding community and during the Antebellum era, was part of the Underground Railroad to help get escaped slaves to freedom.