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 historic building located on Wildey Street in Tarrytown, New York, United States. It was started in 1860, making it the oldest church founded by African Americans in Westchester County. It might even be one of the oldest in the entire state of New York.
During the Civil War, this church was an important stop on the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a secret network of safe houses and routes. It helped people who had escaped slavery travel to freedom in the Northern states or Canada. One of the church's founders had bravely escaped slavery herself. Many people in the church community had also escaped slavery. They helped others find freedom, either by continuing their journey to Canada or by settling safely in Tarrytown. The Foster Memorial AME Zion Church has been a central part of Tarrytown's African-American community ever since.
The church building is made of brick. It was designed by a local architect named James Bird. The building first opened its doors in 1865. Because of its important history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Contents
Exploring the Church Building
The Foster Memorial AME Zion Church is a two-story building. Its front is made of red brick. The other sides of the building are covered with a material that looks like stone. The roof is shaped like a triangle and looks like it's made of slate.
Inside the church, 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 sanctuary from the north, the altar and podium (where the speaker stands) are to the south. On each side of the sanctuary, there are special marble plaques. These plaques honor the church's founders, Henry Foster and Henry Brown.
A Look at the Church's History
The very first AME Zion church in Westchester County was started in New Rochelle in 1837. Another group formed in White Plains six years later. In 1860, four members from the White Plains group, who lived in Tarrytown, decided to start their own local church. These founders were Henry Foster, who was a barber, his wife Amanda, their friend Hiram Jimerson, and The Rev. Jacob Thomas.
Starting the Congregation
At first, the four founders and three other local members met wherever they could. They began meeting in a room above Amanda Taylor's popular candy shop. As more people joined, the church moved to another store and then to a shoe factory. Finally, with help from white members of local churches, the new church formed a committee. Their goal was to find and buy land to build their own church.
Building the Church
A local builder and architect named James Bird created the design for the church. The first stone of the building was laid in October 1864. Henry Foster passed away the next year. He had hoped that many people who had been freed from slavery 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 remembered as the "Mother of the Church."
The church cost $9,120.85 to build. It officially opened in 1865. Back then, it was common for churches to charge a small yearly fee for people to sit in the pews (church benches). At this church, it cost $3 a year. During tough economic times, if the church couldn't pay the pastor, the members would practice "pounding" him. This meant each member would bring the pastor and his family a pound of food. The church grew slowly, even including some white members. By 1886, it had 40 members.
Growth and Community Support
Amanda Foster lived to be 98 years old and passed away in 1904. The large movement of African Americans from the South, which her husband had expected, finally happened in the years after her death. This period is known as the Great Migration. During this time, the church became a vital community center for new arrivals in the Tarrytown area. It helped them adjust to life in a new town.
The church building saw its first changes in the 20th century. Because money was often tight, only necessary repairs could be made. In the 1930s, the original roof was replaced. In the 1950s, the stone-like covering was added to the sides and back of the building. In the 1960s, a new section was added to the back. This made more space in both the sanctuary and the meeting room. The original apartment for the minister was also turned into an auditorium. Pastor Madison McRae continued the church's tradition of helping the community. He led protests against unfair housing practices and encouraged the Tarrytown Fire Department to hire more African Americans.
Important Legacy
The Foster Memorial AME Zion Church is a very important historical site. In 2004, it was added to the African American Heritage Trail of Westchester County. This trail aims to "preserve and interpret the legacy and contributions that people of African descent have made to the development of our unique American identity." The church is one of only 14 such special sites on this trail.
See also
