Asbury AME Church
{{Short description|African Methodist Episcopal Church in Chester, Pennsylvania}}
File:Interior of Asbury AME Church Image.png
File:Official Board of Asbury AME Church Image.png
Asbury AME Church is an African Methodist Episcopal Church founded in 1845 in Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the second African Methodist Episcopal church founded in Chester behind the Union African Methodist Church in 1832. Asbury AME Church is located at 1712 Providence Avenue and is an active worship center.
History
Reverend Stephen Smith of Philadelphia was the founder of Asbury African Methodist Episcopal Church which he organized on October 26, 1845.{{cite book|last1=Ashmead|first1=Henry Graham|title=Historical Sketch of Chester, on Delaware|date=1883|publisher=Republican Steam Printing House|location=Chester, PA|page=[https://archive.org/details/historicalsketch00ashm_0/page/205 205]|url=https://archive.org/details/historicalsketch00ashm_0|accessdate=5 May 2018}} The church was originally a frame building located on the east side of Market Street between Second and Third Streets.{{cite book|last1=Martin|first1=John Hill|title=Chester (and Its Vicinity,) Delaware County, in Pennsylvania|date=1877|publisher=Wm. H. Pile & Sons|location=Philadelphia|page=411|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z_g_AAAAYAAJ&q=asbury+african+methodist+episcopal+church+chester+pennsylvania&pg=PA411|accessdate=10 February 2018}}
In 1846, William Murphy and his wife came to Asbury AME Church with the certificate from Bethel Church in Baltimore, Maryland.{{cite book|last1=Hawkins|first1=John Russell|title=Centennial Encyclopedia of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Volume 1|date=1916|publisher=Book Concern of the A.M.E. Church|location=Philadelphia|page=200|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mL0vAQAAMAAJ&q=asbury+african+methodist+episcopal+church+chester+pennsylvania&pg=PA299|accessdate=10 February 2018}}
In 1863, during the ministry of Reverend Jeremiah Young, the church was rebuilt{{cite book|last1=Jordan|first1=John W.|title=A History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania and Its People|date=1914|publisher=Lewis Historical Publishing Company|location=New York|page=410|url=https://archive.org/stream/historyofdelawar02jord#page/n5/mode/2up|accessdate=29 June 2017}} and the congregation chose to rename the church Asbury to honor Francis Asbury, the English missionary who founded the Independent Methodist Episcopal Church in America.{{cite web|title=History of Asbury|url=http://asburyamechurch.org/historyofasbury/|website=www.asburyamechurch.org|accessdate=10 February 2018}}
On November 25, 1867, the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church was incorporated by the court of Delaware County.{{cite book|last1=Ashmead|first1=Henry Graham|title=History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania|date=1884|publisher=L.H. Everts & Co.|location=Philadelphia|page=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924006215655/page/n401 346]|url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924006215655|accessdate=10 February 2018}}
In 1889, the church building on 2nd and Bevan Street was sold and services were held at James Hall on Fifth and Edgemont Avenue until a new structure was built in 1890.
In 1995, the church property at 2nd and Bevan was sold. The United Methodist Church at 1712 Providence Avenue was purchased and became the new home of Asbury AME Church in 1996.
Notable people associated with Asbury AME Church
AverySunshine sang at Asbury AME Church with the award-winning Wilmington/Chester Mass Choir.{{cite web|last=Lewis|first=Pete|title=AVERY SUNSHINE: SUNNY DELIGHT!|url=http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/543/avery_sunshine_sunny_delight/|publisher= |work=Blues and Soul|accessdate=17 March 2014}}{{cite web|last=Hill|first=Chanel|title=Successful Chester singer Sunshine comes home|url=http://www.phillytrib.com/delawaremetroarticles/successful-chester-singer-sunshine-comes-home.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140317212359/http://www.phillytrib.com/delawaremetroarticles/successful-chester-singer-sunshine-comes-home.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 March 2014|work=Philadelphia Tribune|accessdate=17 March 2014}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://asburyamechurch.org/ Asbury A.M.E. Church Website]
{{Chester, Pennsylvania}}
{{coord|39|51|46.2|N|75|21|38.2|W|region:US-PA_type:landmark|display=title}}
Category:1845 establishments in Pennsylvania
Category:African-American history of Pennsylvania
Category:African Methodist Episcopal churches in Pennsylvania
Category:Buildings and structures in Chester, Pennsylvania