History of Union A.M.E. Church
We the members of Union African Methodist Episcopal Church do humbly acknowledge that our evolution as a united body in worship originated in the year of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND NINE.
Union African Methodist Episcopal Church is a one story T-shaped brick- front building, nestled among old two-story wood frame homes along tree-lined Church Street (Formerly known as Paine Street) in historic Allentown, New Jersey.
The church however, is much, much more than the above brief description. It is the gathering of the spiritual (body of people ) united in Christ, guided by the anointed shepherd (Pastor), in the presence of the Divine Holy Spirit (Almighty God) sharing in the Creator’s love and feasting on the word of The One Who Is. The building and the body have in themselves made contributions to the town's history and created a history of its own as Union A.M.E. Church’s cemetery is the final resting place for Sergeant George Ashby, who was the last remaining New Jersey Civil War Veteran.
Formerly known and documented (county records) as the Allentown African Methodist Episcopal Church, Union holds the proud and distinctive honor of being the third oldest religious establishment in the history of Allentown, New Jersey. Unlike the circumstances and conditions faced by our founding father; Richard Allen in 1787 (asked to conclude their prayers and leave the altar); a group of men and women; (John Wooby, John Lembo, Edward Conner, Ellen Dillon and Ann Wooby under the Pastoral leadership of Rev. John Boggs); filled with a strong faith and belief in God, a desire and a dream purchased land for a community house of worship and erected a one-story (with basement) edifice in 1835 in the Village of Allentown. The first timber (symbolizing construction) was nailed in place and in time by Brother Stacy Wooby.
Brother Charles H. Chew, also carved his place in the history of Union by being a member of the Trustee Board for more than fifty years. In the history books of Allentown; he was known as the beacon of light in a time of darkness for his service as the village lamplighter.
Grand Entertaining, a trademark of Union, dating back to the early 1900’s began with the famous and legendary ‘Annual Harvest Home’ celebrations. The annual suppers took place for more than 40 years. Records dating back to 1922, show that the festivities were widely known and well attended by citizens from southern and central New Jersey and even as far away as Philadelphia, Pa. The celebrations also included live-entertainments; sometimes featuring the Bordentown Brass Band and auctions. Full course menus included chicken (The A.M.E. Bird), ham, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, vegetables (especially lima beans and corn), biscuits, rolls, applesauce, chicken salad, pickles, coleslaw, sandwiches, desserts, confections and bottle soft drinks. (Men could buy cigars and cigarettes in an outside area). The cost of suppers were 75 cents for adults and 40 cents for children. Livery stable stalls (in neighboring towns) were booked three or four weeks in advance for this yearly event. The celebration continues to be part of the town, today, although no longer a part of Union as an annual supper fellowship and fundraiser.
In 1981, Union’s edifice was destroyed by suspicious fire and the parsonage at 76 Church St. served as sanctuary and meeting facility. In 1985, constructed was completed on the new edifice. Lower portion of stained glass windows from the old church were salvaged and installed in the new building.
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History of the A.M.E. Church
The A.M.E.C. grew out of the Free African Society (FAS) which Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, and others established in Philadelphia in 1787. When officials at St. George’s M.E.C. pulled blacks off their knees while praying, FAS members discovered just how far American Methodists would go to enforce racial discrimination against African Americans. Hence, these members of St. George’s made plans to transform their mutual aid society into an African congregation. Although most wanted to affiliate with the Protestant Episcopal Church, Allen led a small group who resolved to remain Methodists. In 1794 Bethel A.M.E. was dedicated with Allen as pastor. To establish Bethel’s independence from interfering white Methodists, Allen, a former Delaware slave, successfully sued in the Pennsylvania courts in 1807 and 1815 for the right of his congregation to exist as an independent institution. Because black Methodists in other middle Atlantic communities encountered racism and desired religious autonomy, Allen called them to meet in Philadelphia to form a new Wesleyan denomination, the A.M.E.C.
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