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Spiritual Traditions

Richard Allen

1760 – 1831

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, United States

Born enslaved in Philadelphia and held in Delaware, Allen bought his freedom in the early 1780s, founded Bethel Church, was ordained a Methodist deacon in 1799, and became the AME Church's first bishop in 1816.

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1829 lithograph of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, the church Richard Allen founded
Credit: William L. Breton / Kennedy & Lucas's Lithography, 1829; Library of Congress (World Digital Library). License: Public domain (no known restrictions).

Content pending: verified research needed.

Related entries

Sources

  1. U.S. National Archives, Rediscovering Black History, "Richard Allen and the Origins of the AME Church" (Primary source)
  2. Archives of the Episcopal Church, "Richard Allen, 1760-1831" (Primary source)
  3. Library Company of Philadelphia, "The Christianity of Freedom" (Black Founders exhibition) (Primary source)

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