The Establishment of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME)

African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) was established and “became increased and feeling a desire for the privilege of holding meetings of their own, where they might have an opportunity to exercise their spirituals gifts”.[1] Freed Slaves wanted to preach the gospels and hold meetings similar to white preachers and denominations. They faced resistance from slaves’ owners and white church members. But individuals like David George, Lemuel Hayes and Richard Allen believed they their gospels brought hope to their race.

Prior to the establishment of the AME, the first black church was “Silver Bluff Church in Aiken County, South Carolina”.^[2] An African American preacher named David George established the congregation.^[3] They were hearing sermons from an individual which they could relate too. It provided hope and a sense of prosperous days ahead. These black congregations were rare during this time. Most black Christians were attached to a white congregation and denomination.

White missionaries allowing African Americans to attend white services was paramount to the growth of Christianity within the community. The first ordain African American minister in a major white denomination was Lemuel Haynes.^[4] His reputation grew the next 30 years as he traveled throughout the Northeast spreading Calvinism. Although with his great success it could only reach certain heights, as some racial bias grew. Hayes felt the resistance from white members, “in order to take into consideration the evils under which they labored, arising from the unkind treatment of their white brethren, who considered them a nuisance in the house of worship”.[5]

African Americans felt they needed to establish their own churches. Methodist allowed African Americans regardless if freed or enslaved, to become licensed preachers. This included the South which was not common. Eventually led to black churches, first black Episcopal Church (1794), first black Methodist Church (1794), first black Northern Baptist Church (1809).[6] These congregations remained with the National Level but in due time, after some disputes with land and other factors, there was a congregation that separated. This congregation would eventually become its own separate denomination. The Bethel Methodist Church would become the African Methodist Episcopal Church which was the one establishment under black control.[7]

African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) started its own discipline in 1817. It led to another independent African American denomination joining the church. The Zion Church created in New York City follow suit. The history of these churches, which soon became its own denomination, is the most critical aspect to the growth of Christianity with the African American community.

An important figure within the African Methodist Episcopal Church was Richard Allen. Allen was born a slave and converted by Methodists in his teen years. This church background “reveals much about the lengths to which African Americans Christians went to express the faith for themselves”.^[8] Allen conversion began when Bishop Francis Asbury, leader of American Methodism, asked Allen to become his traveling companion.^[9] Asbury saw the potential in Allen and ordained him several years later. By 1786, Allen preached to interracial groups of Methodists at St. George’s Church, Philadelphia and in Radnor Pennsylvania.^[10] Allen’s mission was to find and spread the gospel to his fellow African Americans. He was aided by others like Absalom Jones, William White and Dorus Ginnings. He sent out invitations to other black congregations and they all agreed to form African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the Bethel Church could control its own affairs and property.^[11]

AME mission was to spread the belief “that human nature was perfectible, and that if social order which oppressed the black man were rearranged, he would become a productive citizen”.^[12] They felt with the demise of slavery it allow all races to have a better society. The message was pure, and its goal was to destroyed slavery. They used spiritual singing to preach. Historian W.E.B Dubois explained “the most original and beautiful expression of human life and longing yet born on American soil.”^[13] These songs are a testimony to a community creative genius, collective desire for freedom.^[14]

Embry, James C., J. P. Campbell, and African Methodist Episcopal Church. General Conference. The doctrine and discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, 18th ed. Philadelphia: A.M.E. Book Concern, 1885. Sabin Americana: History of the Americas, 1500-1926.

Howe, Daniel W. What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007

Long, Charles H. “African American Religion in the United States of America: An Interpretative Essay.” Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions 7, no. 1 (2003): 11-27.

Mills, Frederick V. “Allen, Richard (1760-1831), American Methodist preacher and founder of the African Methodist Episcopal church.” American National Biography.

Noll, Mark A. A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada 2^nd Edition. Michigan: William B. Errdmans Publishing Company, 2019

Rush, Christopher, and George Collins. A short account of the rise and progress of the African M.E. Church in America. New York: Republished by C. Rush, C.W. Robinson, A. Cole and J. Simmons, 1866, [c1843]. Sabin Americana: History of the Americas, 1500-1926.

Walker, Clarence E. “The A.M.E. Church and Reconstruction.” Negro History Bulletin 48, no. 1 (1985): 10-13.

Williams, Regennia N. “Of griots and grace: the art of oral history and the history of African American religion.” Black History Bulletin 68, no. 2 (2005): 15+. Gale In Context: World History.

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[1] Christopher Rush and George Collins, A short account of the rise and progress of the African M.E. Church in America. New York: Republished by C. Rush, C.W. Robinson, A. Cole and J. Simmons, 1866, [c1843]. Sabin Americana: History of the Americas, 1500-1926, 10

[2] Mark Noll, A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada 2^nd Edition, Michigan: William B. Errdmans Publishing Company, 2019, 98

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid., 182

[5] James Embry, J. P. Campbell, and African Methodist Episcopal Church. General Conference. The doctrine and discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, 18th ed. Philadelphia: A.M.E. Book Concern, 1885. Sabin Americana: History of the Americas, 1500-1926, 3

[6] Daniel Howe, What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848, 182

[7] Ibid.

[8] Noll, A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada 2^nd Edition, 183

[9] Frederick V. Mills, “Allen, Richard (1760-1831), American Methodist preacher and founder of the African Methodist Episcopal church.” American National Biography.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Ibid.

[12] Clarence E Walker, “The A.M.E. Church and Reconstruction.” (Negro History Bulletin 48, no. 1 1985), 10

[13] Regennia N. Williams, “Of griots and grace: the art of oral history and the history of African American religion.” (Black History Bulletin 68, no. 2 2005), Gale In Context: World History.

[14] Ibid.