SOCIETY HILL (WPVI) — Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church has stood at 6th and Lombard Streets for more than 230 years.
It is the oldest parcel of land continuously owned by African Americans in the United States of America.
Now a national historic landmark, the church was founded by the Reverend Richard Allen, a man born into slavery who then bought his freedom and went into Methodist ministry, preaching at Saint George’s Methodist Church in Old City.
As the congregation grew, Black parishioners were segregated to the balcony, and Reverend Allen helped lead a walkout.
He then created his own Methodist denomination, which was the first independent Black denomination in the Western Hemisphere.
With Reverend Carolyn Cavaness at the pulpit, Mother Bethel continues to make history today. She is the church’s 53rd pastor and the first female pastor.
Visit The Richard Allen Museum in the church’s lower level, and you can see artifacts from the Revolutionary War era to today, including Reverend Allen’s tomb, his Bible and his pulpit.
The church is welcoming everyone to come celebrate its rich legacy on Saturday, February 7th, from 11am-1pm, as part of the 52 week’s of firsts celebration.
There will be drumming, crafts, and historical re-enactors.
The annual Founders day celebration is on Sunday, February 8th, and some of Reverend Allen’s ancestors will be in attendance.
And for Reverend Allen’s birthday on February 14th, there will be cake, with 266 candles.
Reverend Cavaness’ motto for this special year is celebrating Black excellence from America’s beginning.
The church was just awarded a $1 million grant from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund to preserve the history and the story of Mother Bethel for future generations.
Mother Bethel AME Church | Facebook | Youtube
419 South 6th Street (6h & Lombard), Philadelphia, Pa. 19147
(215) 925-0616 | motherbethel@aol.com
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