Mother African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
The Mother African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, also known as "Mother Zion", located at 140–148
The church was designated a
Building
The building was constructed between 1923 and 1925 and was designed by architect
The building is the sixth to house the congregation.
History
The Mother A.M.E. Zion congregation was formed in 1796 by African-American members of the predominantly white John Street Methodist Church. Although that church was abolitionist in its orientation, racial segregation was still enforced in other ways. As one A.M.E. Zion historian described it:
The colored members were not permitted to come to the sacrament (Holy Communion) until all the white members, even children, had communed.[2]: 28–36, 156–160
The founding bishop who led the congregation was
and then settling at the present location.The A.M.E. Zion conference was referred to nationally as the "Freedom Church" for its vital role in the United States abolitionist movement, and was an "
Mother Zion also became an important cultural center for the city's African-American community. Paul Robeson, brother of Pastor Dr. Benjamin C. Robeson, spoke from the pulpit. Dr. Robeson's activism for civil rights led him to work with prominent Harlem Renaissance members such as Langston Hughes and W. E. B. Du Bois.[2] From the 1920s into the 1960s, Bertha Des Verney was choir and drama director at the church, and produced concerts and historical pageants as fundraisers and community outreach.[8][9]
Today, the Mother Zion church continues to sponsor a variety of social programs aimed at assisting members of the congregation and the surrounding community. Several historic artifacts from the church's 200-year history are on display in the vestibule.
See also
- African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
- James Varick
- Underground railroad
- African-American church
- Harlem Renaissance
- List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan above 110th Street
References
Notes
- ^ ISBN 978-0-470-28963-1. p.204
- ^ a b c d e Moore, John Jamison. History of the AME Zion Church (York, Penn.: Teacher's Journal Office, 1884. "Mother African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church" (PDF). Neighbourhood Preservation Center, Landmarks Preservation Commission, New York City. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 14, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Moore, Christopher and Dolkart, Andrew S. "Mother African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Designation Report" Archived 2022-03-14 at the Wayback Machine New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (July 13, 1993)
- ISBN 978-0-19538-386-7. p.543
- ^ "Mapping the African American Past: Mother AME Zion Church". Columbia University. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
- ^ ISBN 0-231-12543-7., pp.148-49
- ^ "Riots and Continued Disturbances of the Peace". New York Evening Post. July 12, 1834. p. 1.
- Newspapers.com
- ^ Ted Ston, "Heard and Seen" Daily Defender (June 30, 1959): 10. via ProQuest