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Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Zion Churchyard

Also known as First Wesley Methodist Church Burial Ground , First Colored Wesley Independent Methodist Church Burial Ground , Big Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Zion Churchyard

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA

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  • Get directions 523-527 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19147, United States
    Coordinates: 39.94326, -75.15129
  • This cemetery is marked as being historical or removed.
  • No longer accepting burials
  • Cemetery ID:

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On June 6th, 1820, a group of congregants broke away from the Bethel A.M.E. Church and organized themselves into a distinct society. That July, they purchased and carpenter's shop on the north side of Lombard Street, between 5th and 6th and began to convert it into a house of worship. Their church building was consecrated that December as the First Wesley Methodist Church.

In 1826, the church was incorporated as the First Colored Wesley Methodist Church (Independent); in 1833, they united in fellowship with the A.M.E. Zion church in New York. Further discussion that year gave rise to the "Little Wesley" Church on Hurst Street nearby — Wesley becoming known as "Big Wesley" as a result.

Around the time of its founding, the congregation laid out a burial lot behind the church. In 1885, they removed to a new location at 15th and Lombard, and most of the burials in the old churchyard were removed to Olive Cemetery, and, subsequently, when that cemetery was removed in 1923, to Eden Cemetery in Delaware County. Not all burials were found, however, for when the B'nai Abraham Synagogue, which later occupied the site of Big Wesley, was excavating its basement in 1921, some bones were found.

On June 6th, 1820, a group of congregants broke away from the Bethel A.M.E. Church and organized themselves into a distinct society. That July, they purchased and carpenter's shop on the north side of Lombard Street, between 5th and 6th and began to convert it into a house of worship. Their church building was consecrated that December as the First Wesley Methodist Church.

In 1826, the church was incorporated as the First Colored Wesley Methodist Church (Independent); in 1833, they united in fellowship with the A.M.E. Zion church in New York. Further discussion that year gave rise to the "Little Wesley" Church on Hurst Street nearby — Wesley becoming known as "Big Wesley" as a result.

Around the time of its founding, the congregation laid out a burial lot behind the church. In 1885, they removed to a new location at 15th and Lombard, and most of the burials in the old churchyard were removed to Olive Cemetery, and, subsequently, when that cemetery was removed in 1923, to Eden Cemetery in Delaware County. Not all burials were found, however, for when the B'nai Abraham Synagogue, which later occupied the site of Big Wesley, was excavating its basement in 1921, some bones were found.

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  • Added: 28 Sep 2023
  • Find a Grave Cemetery ID: 2786815