Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Landmark: Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church

On the Lombard-South tour.

Mother Bethel Gargoyles
1889
* dragons
* High on the walls. Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Northeast corner 6th and Lombard.
* 39.943375,-75.151850 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious, Gargoyles
* See also:
+philadelphiabuilding.org's entry for the building




Mother Bethel Plaque
1901
* Bas-relief bust of Richard Allen
* small head
* inscription:
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Founded on this site 1787 by Richard Allen (a former slave)
This ground purchased by Richard Allen for a church is the oldest parcel of real estate owned continuously by negroes in the United States. This congregation is the world's oldest African Methodist Episcopal Church congreation. The first church (1787) was an abandoned blacksmith shop, hauled to this place by the teams of Richard Allen who was elected a Bishop in 1810.
"We all went out of the church (Old St. George's Methodist Church) in a body" and "they were no more plagued with us in their church."
-Richard Allen
May our God continue to bless Mother Bethel and all her children now scattered throughout the world bringing faith and hope to millions of weary souls.
Ring the bells of freedom throughout the world
"Rise, shine, give God the glory for the year of jubilee."
October 1901 [could be 1961]
* Near the entrance. Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. East side of 6th, North of Lombard.
* 39.943375,-75.151935 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious, Black Lives
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Richard Allen page




Richard Allen
Fern Cunningham-Terry, 2016
* statue of, with tribute to Richard Allen, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, Cynthia Hurd, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lance, DePayne Middleton-Doctor, Clementa C. Pinckney, Tywanza Sanders, Daniel Simmons and Myra Thompson
* small standing person, pulpit, Bible
* inscription:
base
Richard Allen
1760-1831
Founder and First Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church
Apostle of freedom proclaiming a liberating and reconciling Gospel.
tribute plaques
In Tribute to the Emanuel Nine
On Wednesday, June 17, 2015, the pastor and eight faithful members were tragically slain in a mass shooting at
Emanuel African American Methodist Episcopal Church
Charleston, South Carolina
They had come together with great joy for a weekly Bible Study. But a stranger who had been warmly welcomed into the group snuffed out the lives of these beloved fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, colleagues and friends. May the untimely deaths of these three men and six women be an eternal reminder of the power of love and forgiveness, and that God's grace is sufficient, no matter what.
The Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney, 41
State Senator and Senior Pastor
The Rev. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, 45
Mrs. Cynthia Hurd, 54
Ms. Susie Jackson, 87
Ms. Ethel Lance, 70
The Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor, 49
Mr. Tywanza Sanders, 26
The Rev. Daniel Simmons, 74
Mrs. Myra Thompson, 59
For to me, to live in Christ and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21, NIV
* Southwest corner of the parking lot. Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Northeast corner 6th and Lombard.
* 39.943115,-75.151985 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious, Black Lives
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Fern Cunningham page
+wikipedia.org's Richard Allen page
+emanuelnine.org's Sharonda Coleman-Singleton page
+wikipedia.org's Cynthia Graham Hurd page
+scafricanamerican.com's Susie Jackson page
+scafricanamerican.com's Ethel Lance page
+emanuelnine.org's DePayne Middleton-Doctor page
+wikipedia.org's Clementa C. Pinckney page
+tywanzasanderslegacyfoundation.com
+findagrave.com's Rev. Daniel Lee Simmons Sr. page
+scafricanamerican.com's Myra Thompson page


See Also

+wikipedia.org's Mother Bethel AME Church page