Old Fort Union American Methodist Episcopal Church (NC-184) - Christiana, DE
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 39° 40.071 W 075° 39.543
18S E 443471 N 4391100
In 1813 a group of African-American Methodists led by Peter Spencer formed an independent denomination that came to be known as the African Union Church. The marker is located at 37 N Old Baltimore Pike, Christiana, DE
Waymark Code: WM11A2D
Location: Delaware, United States
Date Posted: 09/14/2019
Views: 2
The text on the historical marker is: In 1813 a group of African-American Methodists led by Peter Spencer formed an independent denomination that came to be known as the African Union Church. It was the first incorporated religious body in the United States controlled entirely by African Americans. Early meetings of the Christiana Bridge congregation were likely held at private residences until 1850, when a brick structure was built for worship. In 1854 the group was formally incorporated as the African Union Church of Christiana Bridge. Shortly thereafter, a denomination leadership dispute resulted in the separation of some member churches. The Christiana Bridge congregation followed leaders into a new denomination, and in 1868 they were formally incorporated as the Union American Church of Christiana. In the late 19th century the existing house of worship was moved from its original location. The congregation disassembled the structure and rebuilt it on property purchased from Louis Taylor. In 1898, the church was re-incorporated as the Union American Methodist Episcopal Church of Christiana. When the mortgage was burned, "old Fort" was added to the church name to commemorate the faithfulness of the congregation. In 1983 Old Fort UAME was added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of the White Clay Creek Hundred Multiple Resource Area.
Erected 2008 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number NC-184.)
Visit Instructions:
Please include a picture of the sign with your GPS in the picture.