190th Anniversary

It all started when…

The first gathering of Negroes for worship in the Borough of Norristown was held in 1830 in a building at Airy and Walnut Streets. The influence of Richard Allen, the Founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church easily moved among the people of color. As early as 1824 Negro Methodist preachers such as Jarena Lee were preaching the gospel in Norristown. In 1832 the congregation officially organized and adopted the name “Mount Zion”.

Since most of the members of the church were of slave background, their masters came looking for them, but they had escaped into Canada. John and James Lewis, brothers, remained and held meetings in their home in Spring Mill. In 1839 they purchased land at Chain & Lafayette Streets for their first house of worship and built a church known as the Colored Zion Methodist Episcopal Church. Most of the people who had escaped to Canada returned in 1845.

After proper negotiations, in 1869 they purchased the Basin Street property.

On November 11, 1915, this building, 1312 Willow Street, Norristown, PA was dedicated. July 20, 1916 – Amendment to Charter filed. Decree dated September 11, 1916, changed the name to Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church.