Little Jerusalem AME Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Little Jerusalem AME Church
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Little Jerusalem AME Church, April 2012
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1200 Bridgewater Rd., Cornwells Heights, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1830 |
| NRHP reference No. | 80003429 |
| Added to NRHP | December 03, 1980 |
The Little Jerusalem AME Church, also known as Bensalem AME Church, is a very old and important church. It is located at 1200 Bridgewater Road in Cornwells Heights, Pennsylvania. This church is part of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), which is a Christian church started by and for African Americans.
The church building was first built in 1830. It was updated a few times, around 1860 and again in 1896. It is a small, one-room building made of wood. It has a roof that slopes down on two sides, like an upside-down 'V'. Around the church, there is a cemetery where many people are buried, including African American soldiers who fought in the American Civil War.
A Place of History
This church is one of the oldest African American churches in the area. It was started around 1820 by Reverend James Miller. He worked with Richard Allen, who was a very important leader. Richard Allen founded the AME Church. He even built the pulpit inside the Little Jerusalem AME Church himself.
Helping People Find Freedom
The Little Jerusalem AME Church played a big role in history. It was a safe place on the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network of routes and safe houses. It helped enslaved African Americans escape to freedom in the North. The church offered shelter and support to those bravely seeking a new life.
For many years, from 1830 until 1930, this church was the only African American church in Bensalem Township. It was a central place for the community. In 1848, a special school was started there. Reverend John Butler helped create this "sabbath school." It taught local African Americans how to read and write. This was very important because many Black people were not allowed to learn these skills at that time.
National Recognition
Because of its long history and important role, the Little Jerusalem AME Church is recognized as a special place. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it is a historic site that is protected and valued for its importance to American history.
