It would seem that the History of Campbell A.M.E. Church cannot be written without mentioning some of the facts which led to the beginning of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.  Richard Allen, who guided the growth and organization of the A.M.E. Church, was born a slave in 1760, who received no formal education, but taught himself.  He worked, saved and bought his own freedom. 

He devoted his life to achieving freedom and equality for Blacks. 

In 1786, Allen began preaching at St. Georges Methodist Church,

Philadelphia, PA.  On a Sunday in November, 1787, Allen and other

Black worshippers were ordered into segregated seats in the

gallery.  Several Blacks were threatened and shoved while in the

midst of prayer.  When the prayer was over, Richard Allen’s

group rose to their feet and left the church, never to return.  In

1793, Allen bought an old blacksmith shop and converted it into

the First Bethel Church – the first place of worship owned by

African Americans in America. In April, 1816, a conference of five

Black churches was called (Philadelphia, Baltimore, Wilmington,

Attleboro, PA and Salem, NJ).  The African Methodist Episcopal

Church was formed.  Richard Allen was ordained an Elder by

Bishop Francis Asbury of the Methodist Church, and consecrated

the first Bishop of the A.M.E. Church.

 

In the year of 1807 a group of 28 Christians were invited by Sister Sara Congo to her home, 1757 Plum Street (formerly Bowsers Lane), for prayer and to organize a church in the Frankford community.  This prayer band formed the nucleus for what is now Campbell A.M.E. Church.  The exact date of organization is not known.  However, an old marble tablet in the present building reads, “Bishop Campbell Chapel – 2nd A.M.E. Church”.  Two cornerstones have these inscriptions: “Rebuilt in 1818 and Rebuilt in 1870”.   Campbell is named in memory of Rev. Jabez Pitt Campbell, a former Bishop of the A.M.E. Connection.   It is believed that the 28 members continued to hold worship service at Sister Congo’s until they moved to the present site on Kinsey Street.  Sometime between 1807 and 1813, the group erected a small frame church to hold their services.

 

Records at City Hall indicate that the present site was purchased by “The African Methodist Episcopal Church”  of the Borough of Frankford in the County of Philadelphia, from Thomas A. Cuff of Frankford, in the twenty-third Ward of the City of Philadelphia, Minister of the Gospel, and Caroline C., his wife, for the sum of Four hundred and Seventy-five dollars on the ninth day of May, in the year 1885.

 

Many of the early pioneers of Campbell sleep in the church burial grounds.  The graves of the first Pastor of Campbell, Rev. Richard Robinson and his wife Taner, are located at the right of the front entrance to the church.  Civil War Veteran, Moses Bedford, is buried in the church cemetery. 

Yearly memorial services, which included the flag-raising and gun salute, were conducted each May 30th by marching bands and uniformed War Veterans.  They then preceded to parade to the other black burial ground at Meadow Street.  Also buried in Campbell’s cemetery is Sister Agnes Spencer, the first woman licensed to preach from Campbell.

 

Campbell was the only black church in the area until 1869.  During this period up to 1880, Campbell was the major black religious institution in Frankford.  The church building served as a Way Station of the Underground Railroad.  Also, it served as a social and general meeting house for the total community.  Between 1838 and 1840 it held the first classes of the African Colored School.

 

Campbell’s sanctuary was beautifully renovated in 1975, which helped to enhance the priceless memorial stained glass windows.  The windows depict many symbols in the Holy Bible. The lower portion of the windows identify names of pioneer members and various church organizations.  There is a host of names of dedicated members who have served Campbell faithfully.  The large window over the front entrance is illuminated at night by a stainless steel flood light.  The words “Prayer Changes Things” and the “Lighted Cross” over the organ and the “Processional Cross” all have added to the beauty of our worship service.  The parsonage at 1661 Kinsey St., next door to the church, housed many of our Pastors and their families.  The parsonage was completely renovated during the pastorate of Rev. Wassetta Moses, who was assigned to Campbell in July, 1996 and served for 9 years.  She preached her first sermon on Sunday, July 28, 1996.  Many things were added during her administration, such as; church van, new sound system and chair lift.   Rev. Arnold T. Evans, was appointed to Campbell A.M.E. Church on Sunday, May 22, 2005, and he served for four years.  On Saturday, June 20, Rev. Glenn Shepherd was appointed as pastor of Campbell, where he served for four years and nine months.  On Sunday, March 2, 2014, Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram appointed Rev. Michael D. Chism as the pastor of Campbell, Frankford.