Pastor, Richard Allen
Richard Allen, African American Pastor And The Founder Of The African Methodist Episcopal Church, Died March 26, 1831.
Richard Allen Was Born A Slave In Philadelphia, On February 14, 1760. He Bought His Own Freedom And Became A "Strolling Preacher" In Philadelphia. Together With Absalom Jones, He Organized The Free African Society, One Of The First Black Organizations In America.
In July, 1794, Allen Founded The Bethal African Methodist Espicopal Church Of Philadelphia, The First African American-Controlled Church In America, And Believed To Be The Oldest Property Continually Owned By African Americans.
On April 10, 1816, Richard Allen Was Elected First Bishop Of The African Methodist Episcopal Church. The Church Had Broken Away From The White-Dominated Mehtodist Church Earlier That Same Year. Today The AME Is One Of The Largest Black Religious Organizartions In America.
Known To Be Industrious And Thrifty, Allen Managed A Successful Boot & Shoe Store, Becoming One Of The Richest And Most Prominent Blacks Of His Day.
Richard Allen Was Also The Main Force Behind The First African American National Convention, Held Only Five Months Before His Death.
"In Order For Black History To Live, We Must Continue To Breathe Life Into It." --Hubert Gaddy, Jr.
