I was doing some research for an upcoming article for the Herald for Black history month and came across a denomination I have never heard of. I was surpised? Does anyone have info on the Aftican Union Methodist Protestant Church. I read their historical background.

It seems they are maily in NY, NJ. PA and CT. Thanks for your help, it is so fascinating to see the church that have their roots in Methodism. Wow!

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2004

Answers

I came across this denomination several years ago while doing some work for my local Lay Organization. If I'm not mistaken this denomination was originally called the African Union First Colored Methodist Protestant Conference and Connection. I believe the AUMP Church was founded in the mid-late 19th century. It's interesting to note that the AUMP Church is comprised primarily of Northeastern states where the AME Church and the AME-Z Church originated. It would also be interesting to know what led to the creation of this denomination given the presence of the above denominations at that time. QED

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2004

Yes, there are several churches such as that one that "split" from the AME or AMEZ church, who have similar acronymns to the AME church. I read an article in The African American Pulpit that provided a historical sketch of each one of them. If I am able to locate the article, I will provide the citation.

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2004

History of the African Union Methodist Protestant Church

Website of the African Union Methodist Protestant Church

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2004

You can find the history of the African Union Methodist Protestant Church at the Documenting the American South (University of NC) web site. Basically, this denomination grew out of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the same reason Allen departed. The first church was established in Wilmington, DE in 1805, the founder being Rev. Peter Spencer.

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2004

I believe it is an ofshoot of the UAME church. It was founded in Delaware. I wrote a paper about the various branches of African Methodism a while ago and it is interesting that the founder of that denomination also was at the conference that the AME Zion Churches decided not to form with Richard Allen. The delegates from the AMEZ church returned to New York to continue on their own way and the founder of the AUMP church went back to Delaware to go his own way. Here is a good link for you:

http://docsouth.unc.edu/church/russell/russell.html

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2004

The AUMP Church is a splinter church of (The Union Church of Africans) which was inc. in 1813 by The Reverend (later Bishop) Peter Spencer. Union Church of Africans became The Union American Methodist Episcopal Church (UAME) in 1852. The AUMP and UAME are small demnominations which most of their churches are located in North East.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2004