The African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas (AECST) was founded in 1792 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the first black Episcopal Church in the United States. Its congregation developed from the Free African Society, a non-denominational group formed by blacks who had left St. George's Methodist Church because of discrimination and segregation by class.[1] They were led by Absalom Jones, a free black and lay Methodist preacher. As his congregation became established, he was ordained in 1802 by Presiding Bishop William White as the first black priest in the Episcopal Church. Bishop White also ordained William Levington as a deacon at this church, although he soon became a missionary in the South, establishing St. James Church in Baltimore in 1824.
The congregation remains within the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania—although, as discussed below, its location changed several times. St. Thomas became a leading institution in Philadelphia's black cultural life.[citation needed]
Its second rector was William Douglass, an African American, former student of Rev. Levington, and an abolitionist. Clergy and parishioners were active in the Underground Railroad in the 19th century, and participated in the modern Civil Rights Movement in the mid to late 20th century.
St. Thomas was the first black church in the country to purchase a pipe organ, and the first to hire a black woman as organist, who was Ann Appo.[2] Other notable organists were John C. Bowers and his brother, Thomas J. Bowers.[3][4]
While the congregation has worshipped in several different buildings, it has remained continuously active since its founding. The site of the original building, dedicated on July 17, 1794, at Fifth and Adelphi streets, is now covered by the passageway/plaza known as St. James Place. It also worshipped for a time on Twelfth Street south of Walnut Street, before following changing demographics and moving out of the downtown area to West Philadelphia, where the congregation worshipped at 57th and Pearl streets, and 52nd and Parrish streets. It then moved to Philadelphia's Overbrook Farms neighborhood, where it currently worships at a church at the intersection of Overbrook and Lancaster avenues[5]
^Appiah, Kwame Anthony; Gates Jr., Henry Louis (2005). Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience. Oxford University Press. p. 598. ISBN0195170555.
^"The AECST - About St. Thomas". Aecst.org. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
External links
Official website
African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas records from the Archives of the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas
January 30, 2023
african, episcopal, church, thomas, aecst, founded, 1792, philadelphia, pennsylvania, first, black, episcopal, church, united, states, congregation, developed, from, free, african, society, denominational, group, formed, blacks, left, george, methodist, church. The African Episcopal Church of St Thomas AECST was founded in 1792 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania as the first black Episcopal Church in the United States Its congregation developed from the Free African Society a non denominational group formed by blacks who had left St George s Methodist Church because of discrimination and segregation by class 1 They were led by Absalom Jones a free black and lay Methodist preacher As his congregation became established he was ordained in 1802 by Presiding Bishop William White as the first black priest in the Episcopal Church Bishop White also ordained William Levington as a deacon at this church although he soon became a missionary in the South establishing St James Church in Baltimore in 1824 African Episcopal Church of St ThomasAfrican Episcopal Church of St Thomas in 1829LocationPhiladelphia PennsylvaniaCountryUnited StatesDenominationEpiscopalWebsiteAbout St ThomasHistoryFounded1792 1792 Founder s Absalom JonesAdministrationDioceseEpiscopal Diocese of PennsylvaniaThe congregation remains within the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania although as discussed below its location changed several times St Thomas became a leading institution in Philadelphia s black cultural life citation needed Its second rector was William Douglass an African American former student of Rev Levington and an abolitionist Clergy and parishioners were active in the Underground Railroad in the 19th century and participated in the modern Civil Rights Movement in the mid to late 20th century St Thomas was the first black church in the country to purchase a pipe organ and the first to hire a black woman as organist who was Ann Appo 2 Other notable organists were John C Bowers and his brother Thomas J Bowers 3 4 Contents 1 Location 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksLocation EditWhile the congregation has worshipped in several different buildings it has remained continuously active since its founding The site of the original building dedicated on July 17 1794 at Fifth and Adelphi streets is now covered by the passageway plaza known as St James Place It also worshipped for a time on Twelfth Street south of Walnut Street before following changing demographics and moving out of the downtown area to West Philadelphia where the congregation worshipped at 57th and Pearl streets and 52nd and Parrish streets It then moved to Philadelphia s Overbrook Farms neighborhood where it currently worships at a church at the intersection of Overbrook and Lancaster avenues 5 See also EditHistory of the African Americans in PhiladelphiaReferences Edit Stewart Jeffrey 1996 1001 Things Everyone Should Know About African American History New York Broadway Books p 241 ISBN 978 0 385 48576 0 Southern Eileen 1997 Music of Black Americans New York W W Norton amp Co ISBN 0 393 03843 2 p 603 Trotter James M 1881 Thomas J Bowers Tenor Vocalist Often styled the American Mario Music and Some Highly Musical People Readcentral com Retrieved 3 May 2014 Appiah Kwame Anthony Gates Jr Henry Louis 2005 Africana The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience Oxford University Press p 598 ISBN 0195170555 The AECST About St Thomas Aecst org Retrieved 23 December 2017 External links EditOfficial website African Episcopal Church of St Thomas records from the Archives of the African Episcopal Church of St Thomas Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title African Episcopal Church of St Thomas amp oldid 1107091823, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
