Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Philadelphia, dedicated in 1793, was an outgrowth of the movement among African Americans to organize into separate congregations. In 1787 a group of African Americans in Philadelphia withdrew from the white dominated Methodist Church and under the leadership of Richard Allen built Bethel Church. In 1816, Bethel joined with 16 other congregations to form the African Methodist Episcopal Church with Allen as the first bishop.

From the description of Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church records, 1802-1972. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122486469

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