A.U.M.P. Church facts for kids

The African Union First Colored Methodist Protestant Church and Connection, often called the A.U.M.P. Church, is a Christian group that follows the Methodist tradition. It was started by Peter Spencer (1782–1843) in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1813. Back then, it was known as the "Union Church of Africans."

Church History

In 1866, another church called the First Colored Methodist Protestant Church joined with the African Union Church. This second church came from Maryland and was connected to the A.M.E. Church, which was based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After they merged, the churches from Delaware and Maryland combined their names. They became the African Union First Colored Methodist Protestant Church and Connection, or the A.U.M.P. Church for short.

Around the 1860s, some groups from the church decided to form their own separate church. This new group became the "Union American Methodist Episcopal Church" in 1865. Today, these two church groups, the A.U.M.P. Church and the U.A.M.E. Church, are often called the "Spencer Churches". This is because Peter Spencer was the founder of the original church that led to both of them.

At first, the A.U.M.P. Church was run in a less formal way, without a central leader like a bishop. But in the 1880s, they started thinking about having bishops. In 1922, they appointed their first bishop, Daniel J. Russell, Jr.. It wasn't until 1967 that the Church fully changed to a system with bishops as leaders. At that time, they officially appointed two of their leaders as bishops.

Today, the A.U.M.P. Church has about 40 churches. These churches are located in the mid-Atlantic and Upper South regions of the United States. You can find them in states like New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and in Washington, D.C..

Historic Churches

Many churches within the A.U.M.P. Connection have a rich history. Some of these buildings are very old and are recognized as important historic places. For example, the Hosanna Meeting House was built in 1845 in a free Black village in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Other churches, like St. John's Church (Ruxton, Maryland) and Saint Paul African Union Methodist Church in Washington, D.C., are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are officially recognized for their historical importance.