Mother Bethel AME Church: A Historic Landmark Embracing a New Chapter

For over two centuries, Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church has stood as a testament to faith, resilience, and activism in the heart of Philadelphia. Established in 1794 by Richard Allen, the church holds the distinction of being the oldest Black-owned property in continuous use in the United States. Located in the heart of South 6th Street, not far from the big corridors of Center City and the vibrant North Philadelphia neighborhoods, Mother Bethel’s towering red-brick facade and stained-glass windows serve as a visual reminder of the strength and perseverance of Black Philadelphians throughout history.

Now, the historic church is making history once again, this time, by appointing its first-ever female pastor in 237 years. Rev. Carolyn Cavaness stepped into this groundbreaking role in November 2024, marking a significant moment in the church’s legacy and paving the way for a new era of leadership.

Mother Bethel AME was established by Richard Allen, a formerly enslaved man who became one of the most influential Black ministers and abolitionists of his time. After facing racial discrimination at a white-led Methodist church, Allen and other Black worshippers left to create a space where African Americans could worship freely, a radical act of self-determination in the late 18th century.

But Mother Bethel was never just a church, it was a gathering ground and refuge for progressive thinkers and revolutionaries over the centuries that sought to transform the country to be truly democratic for Black Americans, something that was an afterthought for many down at Independence Hall.

Throughout its history, Mother Bethel has been a pillar of social justice and community action. During the abolitionist movement, the church served as a station on the Underground Railroad, helping provide shelter and support to enslaved individuals seeking freedom, with prominent figures like Harriet Tubman involved in assisting freedom seekers. Later, the church played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement, hosting leaders like Frederick Douglass, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who saw it as a sacred ground for mobilization, organizing protests, and advocating for racial justice.

Today, the church remains a cultural and historical landmark, housing a museum in its basement that holds rare artifacts dating back to the late 1700s, including historical documents on the AME Church’s impact on the fight for racial justice, and relics of the AME Church’s early days. As a National Historic Landmark, Mother Bethel continues to connect the past with the present, reminding visitors of the struggles and triumphs that have shaped the nation.

This past November 2024 marked yet another occasion in which Mother Bethel showed its groundbreaking leadership. With the appointment of Rev. Carolyn Cavaness, the church has made history in a way that reflects both its past and its future.

Rev. Cavaness, who previously led Bethel AME Church in Ardmore, PA, is known for her dedication to community service, social justice and engaging younger generations in faith-based activism. In one of her recent sermons, she expressed the significance of this moment:

“We’ve got power to overcome. Power to prevail, power to preach, power to bring down strongholds, power to get our children back, power to say and believe and know that God did it then, and God will do it right now.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Mother Bethel isn’t just another historical landmark, it’s a vital, living part of Philadelphia’s story. While the city is known for places like Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, it’s spaces like this that tell that full story. Even as some of the establishments that once fueled Philadelphia’s Black cultural scene faded, such as jazz clubs and prominent, flourishing Black-owned businesses, Mother Bethel still stands firm. Its presence is a reminder that history is not just preserved in museums, but actively lived every day.