Absalom Jones had to overcome one trial after another to get free and become a leader in the Lord’s house. He was born into slavery – taught himself to read the Bible – saved a “king’s ransom” to buy his way out of bondage, having already bought his wife’s freedom first – traveled to Philadelphia and joined St. George’s Methodist Church, where he was such a good evangelist, more Black folk started coming, so the Whites panicked, built a slaves’ gallery and introduced segregation in the pews without telling anyone. Jones and his friend Richard Allen led a walkout and founded their own African Church. Once formed, they petitioned the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania for admission, if the Bishop met certain conditions. Jones was soon ordained a deacon, but had to wait another 9 years to become a priest. But he did so, making history with every step he took. And the parish he founded, St. Thomas’s African Episcopal Church, remains a pride and joy of that city and diocese today. (The Rev. Dr. Lynn A. Collins) #BlackHistoryMonth
The Daily Office 
The St. George’s Church in Philadelphia would have been a Methodist Episcopal Church at that time.
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Yes; are you saying we should have spelled that out? Why?
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Simply for historical accuracy. There was no Methodist Church prior to 1939. Many United Methodists are aware of our history, beginning as the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1784, then Civil War schism, then three branches coming back together in 1939 as the Methodist Church, and then we merged with a German speaking branch in 1968 to become the United Methodist Church. There are people alive today who remember the church prior to the mergers. Many grew up referring to the “M.E. Church.” On the other hand, most Episcopalians are not aware of Methodist history, and are quite surprised to see the Methodist Episcopal name. They often seem to think that we split off of them, rather than off of the Church of England a year or two prior to the formation of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Thanks for asking!
I’m sorry that I didn’t see your question sooner. I’ll check my notification settings!
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Thank you, DancingPastor. I’m well aware of the M.E. name (and the 1968 merger with the EUB Church). A photo caption about Fr. Jones didn’t seem to me the place to go over all that, so I chose the vernacular “Methodist.” But every old cornerstone I’ve ever seen says “M.E. Church.” Among other things it must have been cheaper when they were paying the chiseler by the letter. 🙂
Thank you for praying with us. We’re glad to have Methodists, Baptists, RCs, Orthodox and everyone else here; the Office is non-sectarian. A reminder to all: praying the Daily Office daily is part and parcel of the Wesleys’ Method, and indeed helped give the movement its name. (So was “constant Communion.”)
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Yes, M.E. would be fine! But it was not a Methodist Church, as the post said. That was my correction. Thanks for the great story, and your kind replies! It’s nice to see someone who knows our history.
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