Allen, Richard (1760-1831), founded the African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.), the first African American denomination in the United States.
Allen was born a slave on Feb. 14, 1760, in Philadelphia, and grew up on a plantation in Delaware. He later bought his freedom, and moved to Philadelphia in 1786.In 1787, Allen helped form the Free African Society, a self-help organization for African Americans. A leader in the independent black church movement, Allen believed African Americans should have control over their religious worship. In 1794, he founded Bethel African Methodist Church. He was ordained a minister in 1799. In 1816, Bethel ended its ties to the Methodist Church. That year, Allen helped establish the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He was elected bishop of the new church. Allen died on March 26, 1831.
