Blessed Absalom Jones
On Saturday, February 11th will diocese will honor the life and ministry of the Blessed Absalom Jones, the first African American priest in The Episcopal Church, with a service at The Philadelphia Cathedral. There will be music from across the diocese and beyond, prayer and a celebration of diocesan acolytes. All are welcome to attend, reservations are encouraged on the Diocesan website. If you plan to attend and would like to represent Christ Church with our banner in an acolyte procession, please let us know.
Additionally, Sunday, February 5 at 10:00 A.M. The Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church, the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, will travel to Philadelphia to celebrate the Feast of Absalom Jones and St. Thomas’ 231st Year Anniversary. Bishop Curry will be the Homilist. Our own bishop, the Right Rev. Daniel G P Gutiérrez will be the Celebrant.
Absalom Jones was born enslaved to Abraham Wynkoop a wealthy Anglican planter in 1746 in Delaware. Absalom was intelligent and eagerly accepted instruction in reading. He saved money he was given and bought books (among them a primer, a spelling book, and a bible). Abraham Wynkoop died in 1753 and by 1755 his younger son Benjamin had inherited the plantation. When Absalom was sixteen Benjamin Wynkoop sold the plantation and brought Absalom’s mother, sister, and five brothers to Philadelphia. In 1784 Benjamin Wynkoop freed Absalom by granting him a manumission. Absalom continued to work in Wynkoop’s store as a paid employee.
Absalom met Richard Allen at St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church and the two became lifelong friends, Together, in 1787, they founded the Free African Society a mutual aid benevolent organization that was the first of its kind organized by and for black people. Members of the Society paid monthly dues for the benefit of those in need.
The Free African Society initiated religious services. Some of these services were presided over by The Rev. Joseph Pilmore an assistant St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. The Society established communication with similar black groups in other cities. In 1792 the Society began to build the African Church of Philadelphia. The church membership took a denominational vote and decided to affiliate with the Episcopal Church. Richard Allen withdrew from the effort as he favored affiliation with the Methodist Church. Absalom Jones was asked to provide pastoral leadership and after prayer and reflection, he accepted the call.
The African Church was dedicated on July 17, 1794. Soon thereafter the congregation applied for membership in the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania on the following conditions: 1) that they be received as an organized body; 2) that they have control over their own local affairs; 3) that Absalom Jones be licensed as layreader, and, if qualified, be ordained as minister. In October 1794 it was admitted as the African Episcopal Church of St Thomas. The church was incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1796. Bishop William White ordained Jones as deacon in 1795 and as priest on September 21, 1802.
Jones was an earnest preacher. He denounced slavery, and warned the oppressors to “clean their hands of slaves.” To him, God was the Father, who always acted on “behalf of the oppressed and distressed.” But it was his constant visiting and mild manner that made him beloved by his congregation and by the community. St Thomas Church grew to over 500 members during its first year. The congregants formed a day school and were active in moral uplift, self-empowerment, and anti-slavery activities. Known as “the Black Bishop of the Episcopal Church,” Jones was an example of persistent faith in God and in the Church as God’s instrument. Jones died on this day in 1818.
Absalom information adapted from The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania website.