Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church records

Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Philadelphia, dedicated in 1793, was an outgrowth of the movement among Protestant blacks to organize into separate congregations. In 1787 a company of blacks in Philadelphia withdrew from the white dominated Methodist Church and under the leaders...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (Philadelphia, Pa.) (Creator)
Collection:Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church Records
Collection Number:2017
Format: Manuscript
Language:English
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001 ead-2017
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040 |e dacs 
041 0 |a eng 
099 |a 2017 
100 1 |a Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)  |e creator 
245 1 |a Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church records  |f 1822-1972 
300 |a 25.0 items  |f 25 items,  
520 |a Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Philadelphia, dedicated in 1793, was an outgrowth of the movement among Protestant blacks to organize into separate congregations. In 1787 a company of blacks in Philadelphia withdrew from the white dominated Methodist Church and under the leadership of Richard Allen built Bethel Church. In 1816 Bethel joined with 16 other congregations to form the African Methodist Episcopal Church with Allen as the first bishop. The class system, which was the early system of the Methodist Church dividing the congregation into Classes, each with a layman as class leader, remained an important part of Bethel's organization late into the 19th century. Part 1: General record books consists of three official church registers, 1865-1874, 1880-1895, 1907-1912. Included in the registers are historical records, class rolls, records of membership, office holders, baptisms, and marriages. The historical records of the first volume contain a transcription of Richard Allen's biography. Part 2: Records of the board of trustees, the controllers and managers of the property of the church, including minutes, 1863-1894, 1910-1944; account books, 1832-1847, 1890-1903, 1909-1942. Part 3: Records on the religious function of the church. This section contains the records of the corporation (a body embracing the entire membership), the official board, the Board of Stewards, the Quarterly Conference, the classes, and the Class leaders. Included in this part are: minutes, 1848-1849, 1876-1972; account books, 1846-1858, 1871-1901; Class rolls with records of contributions and disbursements, 1852-1854, 1872-1894. Part 4: Records of special organizations and activities, including: minutes of the Union Benevolent Sons of Bethel, a burial society, 1826-1844; minutes of the United Daughters of Tapsico Society, a benevolent society offering aid to sick members, 1837-1847; minutes of the Preachers' Association, Philadelphia Conference, 1897-1901; minutes of the [Richard] Allen Christian Endeavor, 1902- 1910; minutes of the Ushers' Association, 1925-1941; minutes of church trials of members for breaches of church discipline, 1822-1835, 1838-1851, 1859-1865; Sunday School roll books, ca. 1860, 1934-1939; membership roll books, 1901, ca. 1916; and visitors' registration books, 1901-1970. Part 5: Miscellany, including a Richard Allen bible, an early King James quarto, 1802. Part 6: The Christian Recorder, the journal of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, 1854-1856, 1861-1902. 
535 1 |a The originals of the Bethel Church records are located at the church's Historical Museum.  
540 1 |a Restrictions. Permission for microfilm copies must be secured from the Historical Commission, Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church, 6th & Lombard Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19106. 
541 1 |a Gift of the Mother Bethel Church, 1973. 
852 |a The Historical Society of Pennsylvania  |b Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church Records  |l 2017