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Union African Methodist Episcopal Churchyard

Also known as Union Coates Street Burial Ground

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA

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  • Get directions South side of Fairmount Avenue, above Fourth Street
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19123 USA
    Coordinates: 39.96289, -75.14615
  • This cemetery is marked as being historical or removed.
  • No longer accepting burials
  • Cemetery ID:

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Around the year 1816, the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church established the a mission church "on [the] south side of Coates Street between Delaware, 4th street, and Old York Road, in the Northern Liberties" that became know as the Union African Methodist Episcopal, or Union Mission, Church.


City directories indicate that a churchyard was in use as a burial ground by 1830. It is likely that some church members were buried in there, but it does not appear the property was intended to serve primarily as a burial ground. Rather, the lot (about the size of two row houses) was purchased to hold a church building, with limited space for burial -- though in 1852, Bethel purchased additional space there for the dead, possibly a lot to the east of the church, but if the latter was the case, the additional ground may not have ever been used for that purpose.


As this was a very small churchyard, it can be assumed that after 1849 many burials would have been directed to the now-defunct Lebanon or Olive cemeteries.


In or about 1884, the church property was sold when the congregation moved further west. It is not known if any attempt was ever made to relocate burials from the site. Today, a residential building occupies the ground.

Around the year 1816, the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church established the a mission church "on [the] south side of Coates Street between Delaware, 4th street, and Old York Road, in the Northern Liberties" that became know as the Union African Methodist Episcopal, or Union Mission, Church.


City directories indicate that a churchyard was in use as a burial ground by 1830. It is likely that some church members were buried in there, but it does not appear the property was intended to serve primarily as a burial ground. Rather, the lot (about the size of two row houses) was purchased to hold a church building, with limited space for burial -- though in 1852, Bethel purchased additional space there for the dead, possibly a lot to the east of the church, but if the latter was the case, the additional ground may not have ever been used for that purpose.


As this was a very small churchyard, it can be assumed that after 1849 many burials would have been directed to the now-defunct Lebanon or Olive cemeteries.


In or about 1884, the church property was sold when the congregation moved further west. It is not known if any attempt was ever made to relocate burials from the site. Today, a residential building occupies the ground.

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  • Added: 12 May 2023
  • Find a Grave Cemetery ID: 2777710