Encyclopedia of African American History

Black Churches  147

During the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and

1960s, the black church made a sterling contribution to the

social and political advancement of the race. Local congre-

gations served as meeting places for countless rallies and

fund-raisers. Scores of local churches got involved in voter

education and voter registration drives. In 1957, King and

other ministers formed the powerful Southern Christian

Leadership Conference. Nine years later, another group

of ministers pioneered the National Conference of Black

Churchmen in support of the Black Power movement.

Among the prominent ministers who led the national

Civil Rights movement were King, Adam Clayton Powell,

Ralph Abernathy, and Jesse Jackson. Christian women also

contributed as marchers, secretaries, activists, and fund-

raisers. Ella Baker and Fannie Lou Hamer were the most

famous female activists. Gospel stars Mahalia Jackson

and Ernestine Washington sang in fund-raising concerts

for the civil rights cause. Black churches later provided

organization. In 1908, Magdalena Tate, a female holiness
preacher, pioneered the Church of the Living God, the Pil-
lar and Ground of the Truth. Th is same year, she was made
bishop, the fi rst black woman to claim such title in America.
In 1924, Ida Robinson, formerly associated with the UHCA,
chartered Mt. Sinai Holy Church of America, a new Pen-
tecostal group that encouraged women to pursue the or-
dained ministry. Robinson also ordained men as pastors,
but women clergy dominated Mt. Sinai for many decades.
During the Great Migration, Northern churches pro-
vided shelter, fi nancial assistance, and employment to
Southern migrants. Nannie Burroughs, a women’s leader
in the NBCUSA, followed the black prophetic tradition
by speaking against black oppression in America. In 1934,
Bishop Ransom led other church leaders in founding the
Fraternal Council of Negro Churches, an ecumenical group
designed to make a united front in tackling the social prob-
lems of the African American community.

Wesley Chapel on John Street, New York City, is home to the oldest Methodist congregation. Th e chapel was dedicated in 1 768. Peter
Williams, the black sexton, stands in doorway. (Library of Congress)