Absalom Jones
Absalom Jones (1746-1818) was a lay minister for African-American members of St. George's Methodist Church. Born into slavery in Delaware in 1746, Jones taught himself to read while working as a servant in his master's house, buying books with pennies he had saved up. Jones later worked as a clerk in his owner's store and attended an all-black school at night. Jones purchased his wife's freedom so their family would be free, and later purchased his own liberty. An active member of St. George's church, Jones served as lay preacher for the African-American members of the congregation. Jones would meet Richard Allen in 1786 and together the two would bring in a large following of African-American members into the Methodist congregation. With all the new followers attracted to St. George's, the church was expanded. Black members were told they were segregated to the balcony, and in "The First Freedom Walk" the black members of the congregation walked out led by Jones and Allen. Though they split later over religious differences, Jones and Allen founded the Free African Society and Jones went on to lead the African Church.
Richard Allen
Richard Allen (1760-1831) was the first African-American preacher ordained by the Methodist Church. Allen was born into slavery in Delaware where he taught himself how to read and write. Once converted to Methodism, Allen's master felt slavery was wrong and offered Allen the opportunity to buy his freedom. Allen started preaching in Methodist churches and meetings the Baltimore area and five years later Allen was able to buy his freedom. Invited to St. George's, Allen's services attracted a large number of African-American followers. In a protest to the segregation of the church sanctuary in 1786, Allen and Absalom Jones organized a protest walk out and Jones formed and headed the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), the first black Methodist church in the United States. Allen and Jones would go on to lead the African-American community to petition the Pennsylvania State Legislature and United States congress to abolish slavery.