Reverend Stephen Smith of Philadelphia was the founder of Asbury African Methodist Episcopal Church which he organized on October 26, 1845.[1] The church was originally a frame building located on the east side of Market Street between Second and Third Streets.[2]
In 1846, William Murphy and his wife came to Asbury AME Church with the certificate from Bethel Church in Baltimore, Maryland.[3]
In 1863, during the ministry of Reverend Jeremiah Young, the church was rebuilt[4] and the congregation chose to rename the church Asbury to honor Francis Asbury, the English missionary who founded the Independent Methodist Episcopal Church in America.[5]
On November 25, 1867, the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church was incorporated by the court of Delaware County.[6]
In 1889, the church building on 2nd and Bevan Street was sold and services were held at James Hall on Fifth and Edgemont Avenue until a new structure was built in 1890.[5]
In 1995, the church property at 2nd and Bevan was sold.[5] The United Methodist Church at 1712 Providence Avenue was purchased and became the new home of Asbury AME Church in 1996.[5]
