Our Story — Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church

How it started

On June 6, 1820, about thirty members of Mother Bethel walked out and organised a congregation of their own. They called it the First Colored Wesley Methodist Church of Philadelphia. Within a year they had joined five other churches to form what became the African Methodist Episcopal Zion denomination — the Freedom Church.

They worshipped first in a carpenter’s shed at 521–527 Lombard Street while a brick church went up. Big Wesley is counted among the first five independent African American churches in Philadelphia.

In 1885 the congregation moved west to 15th and Lombard, the corner it still occupies, and became an anchor of the city’s historic Seventh Ward. The present Gothic Revival building was designed by George Espie Savage, begun in 1923 and completed in 1926: triple-portal doors, grand staircases rising either side of the foyer, and a sanctuary one flight up, ringed by a great U-shaped balcony.

Philadelphians have called it Big Wesley for generations. Within the denomination it carries another name: The Freedom Church. Since its inception, Wesley has been involved in action for the salvation, liberation and elevation of God’s people.

The Gothic Revival facade and great tracery window of Big Wesley

1923 – 1926

Building Big Wesley.

Stone by stone, the congregation raised the Gothic Revival church that still stands at 15th and Lombard, designed by architect George Espie Savage and completed in 1926. These pictures show what the church may have looked like while it was being built.

What the walls and triple-arched entrance may have looked like going up — The walls and the triple-arched entrance rising.

What the bell tower may have looked like under scaffolding — Stone lifted into place on the bell tower.

What the corner of 15th and Lombard may have looked like near completion — The finishing work at the corner of 15th and Lombard.

Two hundred years

A working timeline.

1820

June 6. About thirty members leave Mother Bethel and found the First Colored Wesley Methodist Church of Philadelphia. Worship begins in a carpenter’s shed on Lombard Street.

1821

Wesley joins five other congregations to form the African Methodist Episcopal Zion denomination, and takes its present name.

1848

At its earlier home on Lombard Street, the church hosts an anti-slavery convention attended by Frederick Douglass, Martin Delany, Henry Highland Garnet and Charles Lenox Remond.

1885

The congregation moves west to 15th and Lombard, the corner it still occupies.

1895

The Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital and Training School, Philadelphia’s first Black hospital, opens next door at 1512 Lombard. Its opening ceremony is held at Wesley, and the congregation are among its supporters.

1893

Rev. John E. Price — hymn writer, editor and founder of the Garnet Equal Rights League — serves as pastor and as presiding elder of the Philadelphia District.

1923–1926

The present Gothic Revival church is built to the designs of George Espie Savage.

1932–1933

In the depths of the Depression, by one account Big Wesley feeds some 34,000 people, gives out shoes and clothing, houses families free of charge in an apartment building it owns, and pays members’ health insurance premiums.

1952

Under Rev. Alfred G. Dunston Jr., the church leads a boycott of businesses that would not hire Black Philadelphians into better-paying jobs — and wins.

1955–1956

The congregation sends funds to sustain the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Early 1960s

Rev. Dunston joins fellow pastors in establishing the Opportunities Industrialization Center, the job-training movement that began in Philadelphia and spread around the world.

1978

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, December 1.

2017

Selected for the National Fund for Sacred Places, supporting restoration of the front facade and the stone tracery around the great stained-glass window.

2020

The 200th anniversary. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission dedicates a state historical marker at the church door.

2022

Part of the 1500 block of Lombard Street is ceremonially renamed Wesley Way at a June 2022 ceremony.

Today

Facade restoration under way, and a licensed early learning centre taking shape in the lower level.

Those who led

Pastors of Big Wesley.

A partial roll, drawn from the public record. The full succession of pastors is being compiled from church archives — if you can help fill a gap, please contact the office.

1893

Rev. John E. Price

Fifty years a minister. Hymn writer, editor of church publications, presiding elder, and founder of the Garnet Equal Rights League.

1950s–1960s

Rev. Alfred G. Dunston Jr.

Led the 1952 jobs boycott, backed Montgomery, helped found OIC. Elected the 68th Bishop of the A.M.E. Zion Church in 1964.

Former pastor

Rt. Rev. Louis Hunter Sr.

Went on from the pulpit of Big Wesley to become the 93rd Bishop of the A.M.E. Zion Church.

Today

Rev. Dr. Michael A. King

Pastor and Teacher for sixteen years, and Presiding Elder of the Philadelphia District.

Our senior pastor

Rev. Dr. Michael King

Rev. Dr. Michael King has served as Pastor and Teacher at Wesley for sixteen years. His preaching ministry spans twenty-nine years, including two other congregations in the Philadelphia area.

Dr. King serves as Presiding Elder of the re-organized Philadelphia District of the A.M.E. Zion Church and is the founding director of Share the Love, Inc., a Pennsylvania nonprofit. He is the immediate past President of the board of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches.

He holds degrees from Penn State University, Eastern University, United Theological Seminary and Wesley Theological Seminary.

What we believe

We answer.

We believe that the Holy Scriptures, Old and New Testament, contain all things necessary for salvation. We believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord — conceived of the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, was buried, and arose on the third day.

We believe He ascended into heaven and sits at God’s right hand, and that from there Christ shall return to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Ghost, the one universal Church, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.

Our connection