For 134 years, the historic Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church has sat at Sixth and Lombard streets in Society Hill, and it was recently awarded a new grant to preserve its historical and architectural grandeur, writes Meir Rinde for Billy Penn at WHYY.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has announced that it will award the church a $90,000 grant to help rehabilitate its intricate stained-glass windows.

Mother Bethel is one of the nation’s oldest Black churches and the first AME church. It was built by minister Richard Allen who wanted to build a place for Black Methodists to worship without having to sit in segregated sections of local white churches. 

It’s the oldest parcel in the country continuously owned by African Americans, and was also designated a National Historic Landmark.

“So any time we have an opportunity to help support the work of preservation — because we’re still telling an important story every day, with visitors coming to our site — it’s a big win, not just for us, but for those who come behind us,” said senior pastor Rev. Mark Kelly Tyler. 

He added that he hopes to see the rehabilitation work begin in March. It’s expected to take several months to complete.

Read more about the significance of Mother Bethel church in Billy Penn at WHYY.

_____