Heritage Stamp Will Feature Richard Allen, Founder of AME Church and for Whom Allen University Is Named After
|
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper on January 26, 2016 Richard Allen, the founder of the AME Church and it’s first bishop, will be featured as the next issue in the U.S. Postal Service’s Black Heritage Commemorative Series. Allen, along with the Reverend Absalom Jones, helped found the Free African Society, a non-denominational religious mutual-aid society dedicated to helping the black community. The stamp will be unveiled Feb. 2 at Mother Bethel AME Church in Philadelphia. It is the 39th stamp in the Black Heritage stamp series, which began in 1978 with Harriet Tubman. Other include Martin Luther King, Jr., Paul Robeson and Shirley Chisholm. Allen became the nation’s first black Methodist Episcopal minister when he was ordained by a longtime supporter, Methodist Bishop Francis Asbury, in 1799. However, the new Philadelphia church Allen founded continued to face challenges from white church leaders. In 1816, Allen called for a meeting of other black church leaders, who gathered together to establish the independent African Methodist Episcopal Church. Allen was named the first bishop. The Sixth Episcopal district led by the Right Rev. Preston W. Williams, II will lead the delegation from Georgia next week for the unveiling of the Allen stamp. "We give God the praise for the ministry of Bishop Richard Allen which has impacted the entire world," Williams said in a statement. "This a great honor for someone who is very deserving. When he launched the AME connection, it is unlikely he would have envisioned how it has grown until this day." The church became a stop in the Underground Railroad for slaves seeking freedom in the North. Allen died March 26, 1831. He and his wife, Sarah, are both buried in a tomb beneath the church. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
 |
Reginald Culpepper
President, Fulfillment and Web Services, HBCUCONNECT Clark Atlanta University class of 1998 Member Since September 2000 |
Comments
More From This Author
Latest News
 |
Rosen Foundation expanding scholarship program, partnering with Bethune-Cookman UniversityCarrying on the legacy of Harris Rosen and his commitment to education, today the Harris Rosen Foundation announced it is expanding its already-successful scholarship program and partnering with Bethu ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 279 Views • May 19th, 2026 |
 |
Sinners vs. Michael: Which Film Actually Won the Ultimate Culture Debate?While Antoine Fuqua’s Michael is dominating the box office with its electrifying, stadium-level concert recreations and a star-making, uncanny physical performance by Jaafar Jackson, critics and film ...more
TaQuan Ford • 221 Views • May 16th, 2026 |
 |
Healthcare Career Fair Aims to Connect Employers with Qualified Local Talent in Northern VirginiaHealthcare organizations across Northern Virginia will have an opportunity to connect directly with qualified job seekers this June during the upcoming Healthcare Career Fair in Prince William County. ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 405 Views • May 15th, 2026 |
Popular News
 |
North Carolina HBCU Unity DayShaw University - Elizabeth City State University - Johnson C. Smith University - Fayetteville State University - Livingstone College - North Carolina A&T State University - North Carolina Central Uni ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 109,429 Views • August 8th, 2016 |
