Bethel A. M. E. Church
Posted by: 
Gosffo
N 40° 20.553 W 075° 55.536
18T E 421386 N 4466189
Underground railroad Stop!
Waymark Code: WM7QM
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 02/18/2006
Views: 27
Marker Text:
Berks County's oldest Black church building. Erected 1837 by free African Americans; became an Underground Railroad station for escaped slaves seeking freedom. Rebuilt 1867; remodeled 1889. Congregation, dating from 1822, moved to Windsor Street in 1974.
The church was constructed trought private resources. Samuel Murray put up his 13 locally owned porperties for collateral. He also became a licence preacher and became the church's 1st preacher. Before the Civil War, the church, was a stop on the underground railroad. The 3 other founding members where George, Dillen, Isacc Parker and Jacob Ross ( a run away slave himself).
To log your find take a pic of you and the sign, or you and the church!
Marker Name: Bethel A. M. E. Church
County: Berks
Date Dedicated: 05/11/1996
Marker Type: City
Location: 119 N. 10th St., Reading
Category: Underground Railroad, African American, Religion
Website: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
In your log, please say if you learned something new, and if you took any extra time to explore the area once you stopped at the historic marker waymark.
Please post a photo of you OR your GPS at the marker location.