[PAR] [TLE] African Methodist Episcopal Church [SEP] The African Methodist Episcopal Church, usually called the A.M.E. Church, is a predominantly African-American Methodist denomination based in the United States.  It is the first independent Protestant denomination to be founded by black people .  It was founded by the Rt.  Rev. Richard Allen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1816 from several black Methodist congregations in the mid-Atlantic area that wanted independence from white Methodists.  Allen was consecrated its first bishop in 1816.  It began with eight clergy and five churches, and by 1846 had grown to 176 clergy, 296 churches, and 17,375 members.  The 20,000 members in 1856 were located primarily in the North.  AME national membership (including probationers and preachers) jumped from 70,000 in 1866 to 207,000 in 1876. [PAR] [TLE] Greater Bethel AME Church (Harlem, New York) [SEP] Greater Bethel AME Church is located at 32 West 123rd Street in Harlem.  It is one of the oldest black churches in New York City.  The Greater Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in Lower Manhattan in 1819 and moved into the Harlem Library building in the early twentieth century.
[PAR] [TLE] African Methodist Episcopal Church [ SEP ] The African Methodist Episcopal Church , usually called the A.M.E. Church , is a predominantly African - American Methodist denomination based in the United States . It is the first independent Protestant denomination to be founded by black people . It was founded by the Rt . Rev. Richard Allen in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , in 1816 from several black Methodist congregations in the mid - Atlantic area that wanted independence from white Methodists . Allen was consecrated its first bishop in 1816 . It began with eight clergy and five churches , and by 1846 had grown to 176 clergy , 296 churches , and 17,375 members . The 20,000 members in 1856 were located primarily in the North . AME national membership ( including probationers and preachers ) jumped from 70,000 in 1866 to 207,000 in 1876 . [PAR] [TLE] Greater Bethel AME Church ( Harlem , New York ) [ SEP ] Greater Bethel AME Church is located at 32 West 123rd Street in Harlem . It is one of the oldest black churches in New York City . The Greater Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in Lower Manhattan in 1819 and moved into the Harlem Library building in the early twentieth century .
Who founded the predominantly African-American Methodist denomination based in the United States, located at 32 West 123rd Street in Harlem?
Who founded the predominantly African - American Methodist denomination based in the United States , located at 32 West 123rd Street in Harlem ?
Rev. Richard Allen
Rev. Richard Allen