Overview

When Richard Allen died in 1831, David Walker proclaimed that he was one of  “the greatest divines who has lived since the apostolic age.” Throughout Allen’s life, he’d been born a slave, purchased his own freedom and later, became a leader in the early abolition movement and founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME).

Early Life

Allen was born enslaved on February 4, 1760 in Philadelphia.

As a child, Allen and his family were sold to Stokeley Sturgis in Delaware. Soon after, Sturgis sold Allen’s mother and three of his siblings. Left with his older brother and sister, Allen and his siblings began to participate in meetings held by a local branch of the Methodist Society. The Methodist Society welcomed both enslaved and freed African-Americans to worship and at the age of 17, Allen became a Methodist. Soon after, Allen began evangelizing to African-Americans in the area.

Soon after Allen began evangelizing, his owner, Sturgis realized that owning humans was wrong and offered Allen the opportunity to purchase his freedom. By 1780, Allen was able to change his name from “Negro Richard” to “Richard Allen.”

Work as a Minister

In 1784, Allen was able to become a preacher at the Christmas Conference in Baltimore. Initially, Allen was able to lead services at 5 am because the parishioners were mostly African-American. Soon after, Allen decided to move to Philadelphia so that he could service freed African-Americans.

Within two years, Allen was preaching at St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church’s early morning services. Soon, more African-American parishioners were attending his services and as a result, the church administrators required them to worship in a separate area.

Working with fellow Methodist preacher Absalom Jones, Allen decided to organize African-American congregation members and find their own place of worship. By 1787, Allen and Jones decided to leave St. George’s Methodist Church, taking its African-American parishioners. The preachers established the Free African Society (FAS).

The FAS was a non-denominational mutual aid society helping escaped slaves in Philadelphia. The group purchased a lot on Sixth Street and today, it is home to the Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Today, it is the oldest land owned by African-Americans.

By 1794, a faction of the FAS decided that they wanted to belong to the Episcopal Church. As a result, Jones established the African Church with several members of the FAS. In 1804 Jones was ordained an Episcopal priest, becoming the first African-American to hold such a title.

Several other members decided to be Methodists and Allen established the AME Church.  The church was established in July 1794 and within a decade, the church had 457 members. By 1813, there were more than 1200 members.

In 1816, Allen brought together four African-American congregations and established the AME Church as the first independent black denomination in the United States.  That same year, Allen was elected as the denomination’s first bishop.

Abolitionist and Social Activist 

In addition to Allen's work as a Methodist preacher, he was heavily involved in the abolition movement. 

Beginning at the height of the FAS until his death, Allen and his wife operated a station on the Underground Railroad, helping enslaved African-Americans reach freedom. 

In 1839, African-American leaders from seven states came to Philadelphia for the first National Negro Convention. The meeting began the trend of convention movements where African-Americans would organize and speak out on issues in their local and state areas. 

Personal Life

In 1790, Allen married his first wife, Flora. From 1787 to 1799, the couple worked to establish a church. Together, they attended church and purchased land which was donated to the church or rented out to families in their community. Following a long illness, Flora died in 1801. The couple had no children.

 

Allen’s second wife was Sarah Bass, who was also known as “Founding Mother.” Sarah was born in Virginia and moved to Philadelphia as a child. Sarah Allen played an active role in helping to build the AME Church and in particular, Mother Bethel. Together, the couple had six children.

Death

Allen died on March 26, 1831. His remains were entombed at Mother Bethel in the lower level of the church.