<P> The church was organized by African - American members of St. George 's Methodist Church who walked out due to racial segregation in the worship services . Mother Bethel was one of the first African - American churches in the United States , dedicated July 29 , 1794 , by Bishop Francis Asbury . On October 12 , 1794 , Reverend Robert Blackwell announced that the congregation was received in full fellowship in the Methodist Episcopal Church . In 1816 Rev Richard Allen brought together other black Methodist congregations from the region to organize the new African Methodist Episcopal Church denomination . He was elected bishop of this denomination . After the American Civil War , its missionaries went to the South to help freedmen and planted many new churches in the region . </P>
<P> The church was organized by African - American members of St. George 's Methodist Church who walked out due to racial segregation in the worship services . Mother Bethel was one of the first African - American churches in the United States , dedicated July 29 , 1794 , by Bishop Francis Asbury . On October 12 , 1794 , Reverend Robert Blackwell announced that the congregation was received in full fellowship in the Methodist Episcopal Church . In 1816 Rev Richard Allen brought together other black Methodist congregations from the region to organize the new African Methodist Episcopal Church denomination . He was elected bishop of this denomination . After the American Civil War , its missionaries went to the South to help freedmen and planted many new churches in the region . </P>
who started the bethel african methodist episcopal church in philadelphia
who started the bethel african methodist episcopal church in philadelphia
Bishop Francis Asbury
Bishop Francis Asbury