African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas |
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African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas in 1829
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| Location | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Episcopal |
| Website | About St. Thomas |
| History | |
| Founded | 1792 |
| Founder(s) | Absalom Jones |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania |
The African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas (AECST) was founded in 1792 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was the first Episcopal Church in the United States started by and for Black people.
Its congregation began with the Free African Society. This was a group formed by Black individuals who had left St. George's Methodist Church. They left because they faced unfair treatment and separation there. Their leader was Absalom Jones, a free Black man and Methodist preacher.
As the church grew, Absalom Jones was ordained in 1802. He became the first Black priest in the Episcopal Church. This was done by Bishop William White. Bishop White also ordained William Levington as a deacon at this church. Levington later became a missionary. He started St. James Church in Baltimore in 1824.
The church is still part of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania. It has moved several times over the years. These moves helped the church stay close to its members. The church has been open and active since it began. St. Thomas became a very important place in Philadelphia's Black community.
Important Leaders and Activities
The second leader of the church was William Douglass. He was an African American and a former student of Rev. Levington. Douglass was also an abolitionist, meaning he worked to end slavery.
Church leaders and members were very active in helping enslaved people escape. They were part of the Underground Railroad in the 1800s. They also took part in the Civil Rights Movement in the mid-to-late 1900s. This movement worked for equal rights for all people. Henry L. Phillips served as a temporary leader and later as the ninth leader of the church.
Music and Firsts
The African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas was the first Black church in the country to buy a pipe organ. It was also the first to hire a Black woman as an organist, Ann Appo. Other famous organists there included John C. Bowers and his brother, Thomas J. Bowers.
Where the Church Has Been
The church has met in different buildings over the years. But it has always been active since it started. The first building was dedicated on July 17, 1794. Its original location is now a passageway called St. James Place.
The church also met on Twelfth Street for a time. Later, it moved to West Philadelphia. This was to follow where most of its members lived. It met at 57th and Pearl streets, and 52nd and Parrish streets. Now, the church is in Philadelphia's Overbrook Farms neighborhood. It is located at Overbrook and Lancaster avenues.
See also
