“Hallowed ground,” they say. That’s exactly what you’re standing on right now in front of New Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. This isn’t just any church. It’s the mother church of the nation’s first black denomination.
New Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church’s origins date back to 1787. This was when Rev. Richard Allen and Absalom Jones encouraged black worshippers to form their own congregations. They had been forced to sit in the balconies during services at traditionally white churches. Richard Allen became the church’s founding pastor and first bishop.
The very ground beneath New Bethel is historic. It is the oldest parcel of land in the United States continuously owned by African-Americans. The church memorializes Rev. Richard Allen.
The original structure of New Bethel AME Church was a wood frame blacksmith shop. Allen purchased it and moved it to the church’s current location. Allen was not only a religious leader. He was also a prominent political and abolitionist activist.
Step inside New Bethel, if you can. A basement crypt serves as a museum. Allen’s tomb is housed here. You will also discover intriguing artifacts. See the original pews. Behold the original pulpit constructed and used by Rev. Allen. Observe old ballot boxes used to elect church officers. Imagine muskets from when Allen raised black troops during the War of 1812.
Don’t miss New Bethel’s collection of huge stained-glass windows. They feature both religious and Masonic images. New Bethel AME Church was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974.
Near New Bethel, at 6th and Lombard streets, stands a historic marker. It is dedicated to the Free African Society. Wealthy sail-maker James Forten, Sr. and Reverends Allen and Jones founded it. The Free African Society’s concepts of identity and unity among the black community became the forerunner for the nation’s first African American churches and civil rights institutions.
A few blocks away, at 336 Lombard Street, another marker specifically honors James Forten. He is believed to have amassed a fortune exceeding $100000 utilizing a multi-ethnic work force. Additionally, he helped organize the first Negro Convention in Philadelphia in 1830.
Today, New Bethel continues its mission. It ministers to the spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and environmental needs of all people. This is done by spreading Christ’s liberating gospel through word and deed. Rev. Mark Kelly Tyler, Ph.D., currently serves as the 52nd Pastor. The doors of Mother Bethel remain open to those considered by society as the “least of these”. Take a moment to reflect on the rich history and enduring legacy of New Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church.