Foster Memorial AME Zion Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Foster Memorial AME Zion Church |
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Front elevation and west profile of church, 2008
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church |
| Location | |
| Location | Tarrytown, New York, USA |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | James Bird |
| Groundbreaking | 1864 |
| Completed | 1865 |
| Construction cost | $9,120.85 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | North |
| Materials | Brick |
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Added to NRHP | 1982 |
| NRHP Reference no. | 82003414 |
| Website | |
| Foster Memorial Church NPS | |
The Foster Memorial AME Zion Church is a very important church located in Tarrytown, New York. It was started in 1860 and is the oldest black church in Westchester County. It might even be one of the oldest in the entire state of New York!
During the American Civil War, this church was a secret stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a network of safe houses and routes that helped enslaved people escape to freedom. Many people who went to this church, including one of its founders, had escaped slavery themselves. They helped others either travel further north to Canada or find a new home in Tarrytown. The church has always been a big part of the African-American community in Tarrytown.
The church building, made of brick, was designed by a local architect named James Bird. It opened in 1865. Because of its important history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Contents
The Church Building
The Foster Memorial AME Zion Church is a two-story building. It is made of red brick, but you can only see the brick on the front of the building. The other sides are covered with a material that looks like stone. The roof also looks like slate, but it's an imitation material.
Inside, the first floor has offices, a kitchen, and a large meeting room. The main worship area, called the sanctuary, is on the second floor. When you enter, the altar and podium are at the back. There are also special marble plaques inside that remember the church's founders, Henry Foster and Henry Brown.
History of the Church
Starting the Church
The first AME Zion church in Westchester County was started in New Rochelle in 1837. A group in White Plains followed a few years later. In 1860, four people from Tarrytown, who were part of the White Plains group, decided to start their own church in Tarrytown. These founders were Henry Foster, who was a barber, his wife Amanda, their friend Hiram Jimerson, and Reverend Jacob Thomas.
At first, the small group of founders and other members met in different places they could borrow. They started in a room above Amanda Taylor's candy shop. As more people joined, they moved to another store and then to a shoe factory. Finally, with help from white members of other local churches, they formed a committee to buy land and build their own church.
Building the Church
Local builder and architect James Bird created the design for the church. The first stone of the building, called the cornerstone, was placed in October 1864. Henry Foster passed away the next year. He had hoped that many formerly enslaved people would move north after the Civil War ended. While this didn't happen right away, his wife, Amanda Foster, continued to be very important to the church's growth. Today, she is honored as the "Mother of the Church."
The church cost about $9,120.85 to build. It opened in 1865. Back then, it was common for churches to charge a small yearly fee for pews (the benches where people sit). This helped pay for the church. If times were tough and the church couldn't pay its pastor, members would bring him and his family a pound of food. The church grew slowly, and by 1886, it had 40 members, including some white people.
Growth and Changes
Amanda Foster lived to be 98 years old and passed away in 1904. After she died, a large movement of African Americans from the southern states, known as the Great Migration, finally began. During this time, the Foster Memorial AME Zion Church became a community center. It helped new people arriving in Tarrytown get used to city life.
Over the years, the church building had some changes. In the 1930s, the original roof was replaced. In the 1950s, the sides and back of the building were covered with a new stone-like material. In the 1960s, a new section was added to the back, making the worship area and meeting room bigger. The minister's old apartment was also turned into an auditorium. Pastor Madison McRae, a leader at the church, continued its tradition of fighting for fairness. He led protests against unfair housing rules and helped convince the Tarrytown Fire Department to hire more African-Americans.
Important Legacy
The Foster Memorial AME Zion Church is a very important historical place. In 2004, it was added to the African American Heritage Trail of Westchester County. This trail helps to remember and share the amazing things that people of African descent have done to shape American identity. The church is one of only 14 special sites on this trail.
See also
