HISTORY OF THE
AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH
         The Official Logo of the A.M.E. Zion Church                                         Founder and first Bishop of the A.M.E. Zion Church

John Wesley
The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church is one of the many Methodist denominations that traces its roots to the Methodist revival movement within the Church of England begun by John Wesley and others.  This movement would eventually become a separate denomination, the Methodist Church.  Methodism was organized as a denomination within the United States as the Methodist Episcopal Church.  Out of this American manifestation of Methodism, the A.M.E. Zion Church would be born.  This is a link to the John Rylands University Library in Manchester, England.  This site contains an online exhibition of artifacts, pictures, and photographs related to John Wesley's life and his movement, Methodism.  This site also includes links to other sites related to Methodist history and Methodism worldwide.

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism


Secession from the Methodist Episcopal Church
The founders of the A.M.E. Zion Church, at first, attempted to remain within the Methodist Episcopal Church as a separate conference of African preachers and churches.  When they did not receive the desired consideration, recognition, and respect from the Methodist Episcopal Church they severed all organic ties.  This link is to an online book entitled A History of the Methodist Episcopal Church by Nathan Bangs originally published in 1841.  In this part of the collection, (Volume III, Book V, Chapter 4), Bangs gives the Methodist Episcopal Church's account of the secession of the members of the A.M.E. Zion Church in the recollection of events in the year 1819.

Bangs begins to tell the account of the secession in the paragraph that begins, "While these efforts were making to enlarge the sphere of our operations..."

(Note: the A.M.E. Zion Church originally incorporated under the name the African Methodist Episcopal Church in America and is referred to as such in the book.  However, the denomination has never been affiliated with the denomination of the same name founded by Richard Allen in Philadelphia.  Zion, the name given to the first chapel built in New York City in 1801, was officially added to the denominational title in 1848 to distinguish it from Allen's movement.  As Bangs history shows, The Methodist Episcopal Church recognized the difference between the two denominations despite the fact they shared the same name during this time period).

The John Street Methodist Episcopal Church in New York City from which the members of the A.M.E .Zion Church withdrew


The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
This is the link to the official website of the A.M.E. Zion Church.  At this site, one can find a brief history of the denomination, a listing of the Board of Bishops, and information about The Star of Zion, the official newspaper of the denomination.  There is also an explanation of the denominational title as well as contact information for the Bishops and Officers for the various departments within the A.M.E. Zion Church.

                                  

The various edifices of Mother A.M.E. Zion Church (originally named African Chapel, later renamed Zion Church) over the years as the locus of the African-American community in Manhattan moved uptown from lower Manhattan to Harlem.

The Role of the A.M.E. Zion Church in African-American life in 19th Century New York City
The A.M.E. Zion Church played a critical role in the life of African-Americans in New York City.  At one time, the A.M.E. Zion Church provided one of the few sacred burial spaces for people of African descent in New York City.  When no longer allowed to bury people in its vaults in the churchyard in lower Manhattan, it secured space in the Potter's Field that was located in what is now Washington Square Park.  It also secured land for burial purposes in Seneca Village.  Seneca Village would eventually be razed to become a part of the western portion of New York City's famed Central Park.  This link is to the website produced as a result of the joint efforts to present an online history of Central Park by the New York Historical Society; the New York Public Library, Office of Young Adult Services; and the Institute for Learning Technologies at Columbia University .  This site contains information about the cemeteries  and church owned by the A.M.E. Zion Church in Seneca Village.

(Note: this website contains a picture of Richard Allen and lists him as the founder of the A.M.E. Zion Church.  This is incorrect information!.  Richard Allen was the founder of the A.M.E. Church, a distinct denomination of similar name which began in Philadelphia).


Newspaper clip announcing the laying of the cornerstone of the A.M.E. Zion Church Branch Militant, August 4, 1853 in Seneca Village


The Harriet Tubman Home
The A.M.E. Zion Church played an active role in the Abolitionist Movement.  Many of its churches served as "stations" on the Underground Railroad.  In fact, there is a rule from the earliest days of the denomination that remains in the Discipline (The denomination's book of rules and rituals) which state that no one who owns slaves may be a member of the A.M.E. Zion Church.  One of the well known "conductors" of the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman, was a member of the A.M.E. Zion Church.  Harriet Tubman was a member of Thompson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Auburn, New York.  She acquired some property in Auburn upon which she intended to build a home for the elderly and indigent.  She deeded the property to the A.M.E. Zion Church to own and operate in 1903.  This link is to the official website of the Harriet Tubman Home in Auburn, New York.  This page is a part of the larger New York History Net website.  The Harriet Tubman page contains information on the history of the Harriet Tubman Home; announcements of tours and events at the Home, and information on how you can financially support the Harriet Tubman Home.  There are also links to related sites about Harriet Tubman, the Underground Railroad, and Freedom Trails within North America.

Harriet Tubman, "The Moses of her People," a celebrated member of the A.M.E. Zion Church


This site was prepared by Rev. Andrew D. Branch
                                                    
                             Pastor
State Street African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
                               Hudson, NY


CHIST 203                                               Spring 2001                          PROFESSOR J. TERRY TODD