People, Locations, Episodes

St. Thomas African Episcopal Church (Philadelphia) is Founded

*This date marks the founding of the first Black Methodist Episcopal church in America in 1794.

This took place in Philadelphia, PA where Richard Allen, a minister and notable orator worked extremely hard to ensure a growing church membership. In 1787, Allen, Absalom Jones, and William White were pulled from their knees during prayer by a white usher for being in an area reserved for white members of the congregation.

Seven years later Allen fulfilled his dream by founding the Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church.

Thomas F. Mulledy, Slave Owner, and Priest born

*Thomas F. Mulledy was born on this date in 1794.  He was a white-American Catholic priest, administrator, and slave owner.   From Virginia, Mulledy entered the Society of Jesus and was educated for the priesthood in Rome before completing his education in the United States. He twice served as president of Georgetown College in Washington, D.C. At Georgetown, Mulledy undertook a significant building campaign, which […]

Rebecca Cox Jackson, Shaker Eldress born

*Rebecca Cox Jackson was born on this date in 1795. She was a Black woman who became an eldress in the Shaker religion and founded a Shaker community in Philadelphia.

Samuel Cornish, Minister born

*The birth of Samuel Cornish is celebrated on this date in 1795.  He was a Black Presbyterian minister, abolitionist, publisher, and journalist.   Samuel Eli Cornish was born in Sussex County, Delaware, to free parents of mixed race. As a young man, in 1815, he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which had a large community of free Blacks.  After moving to New York City in 1821, Cornish organized […]

The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in America, a story

*On this date in 1796, we celebrate the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AMEZ). The AME Zion Church is a historically black Christian denomination in the United States. It was officially formed in 1821 in New York City but operated for several years before then. The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church adheres to Wesleyan-Arminian theology. […]

The Candomblé, Religion, a story

*Candomblé is celebrated on this date in 1800. This African diasporic religion developed in Brazil during the 19th century. It arose through syncretism between the traditional religions of West Africa and the Roman Catholic form of Christianity. There is no central authority in control of Candomblé, which is organized through autonomous groups. Candomblé developed among Afro-Brazilian communities […]

The ‘Black Spiritual’ In America, a story

On this date, we focus on Black spiritual music in America.

Shango (African Based Religion), a story

On this date, from 1800, we celebrate the Shango religion, one of many African inspired religions practiced in the Americas.

Samuel Sharpe, Abolitionist born

*This date in 1801 is celebrated as the birth date of Samuel Sharpe. Also known as Sam Sharpe, he was an enslaved Black Jamaican preacher and abolitionist. Samuel Sharpe was born into slavery in the parish of St James, Jamaica. He was raised on a plantation owned by Samuel and Jane Sharpe. The 1817 slave records […]

Marie Laveau, Voodoo Practitioner born.

*Marie Laveau was born on this date in 1801. She was a Black Voodoo practitioner, herbalist, and midwife. Marie Catherine Laveau was born a Creole-free woman of color in New Orleans, Louisiana. Spanish colonial officials still administered Louisiana at the time of her birth. Her mother, Marguerite D’Arcantel, was a free woman of color of African, European, […]

The Alfred Street Baptist Church is formed

*Alfred Street Baptist Church is celebrated on this date in 1803. This Baptist church in Alexandria, Virginia, is affiliated with the National Baptist Convention, USA. Among the main Black Churches in America, its first colored member, Susan Black, a black slave, was baptized in May 1803, and soon other coloreds were invited to join this integrated group. […]

The African Meeting House (Boston) is Founded

*On this date, in 1805, The African Meeting House was founded. Also known as First African Baptist Church, First Independent Baptist Church, and the Belknap Street Church, it is now the oldest black church edifice still standing in the United States. Before 1805, although black Bostonians could attend white churches, they generally faced discrimination. They […]

Lewis Woodson, Minister, and Abolitionist born

*The birth of Lewis Woodson is celebrated on this date in 1806.  He was a Black minister and abolitionist.  Born free in Greenbrier County, Va. (now West Virginia).  Woodson was the oldest of eleven children born to Thomas and Jemima Woodson, both mulatto slaves who had gained their freedom.  Woodson family oral history, dating to […]

Edward Jones, a Missionary born

*The birth of Edward Jones is celebrated on this date in 1807. He was a Black missionary. Edward Jones was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and became part of the mulatto elite of that city. He was the brother of Jehu Jones, a black preacher. Many free mulattoes were freed enslaved people who had fought in the American […]

The Abyssinian Baptist Church, NYC is Founded

On this date in 1808, we celebrate the founding of Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City.

Black Americans along with a group of Ethiopian merchants were unwilling to accept racially segregated seating of the First Baptist Church of New York City and withdrew forever their membership. Determined to organize their own church, they established themselves in a building on Anthony Street (later Worth Street), calling it the Abyssinian Baptist Church. The name was inspired by the nation from which the merchants of Ethiopia had come, Abyssinia.