Richard Allen (bishop)

**Richard Allen** (February 14, 1760 - March 26, 1831) na he be a minister, educator, writer, den one of de United States ein most active den influential black leaders. Insyd 1794, na he found de African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), de first independent Black denomination insyd de United States. Na he gbele ein first AME church insyd 1794 insyd Philadelphia.

Na dem elect am de first bishop of de AME Church insyd 1816, na Allen focus on organizing a denomination insyd na wich free black people fi worship widout racial oppression den enslaved people fi find a measure of dignity. Na he work make he upgrade de social status of de black community, organizing Sabbath schools to teach literacy den dey promote national organizations to develop political strategies. Na Allen say, "We never go separate wona selves voluntarily from de slave population insyd dis country; dem be wona brethren, wey we dey feel der be more virtue insyd suffering privations plus dem dan a fancied advantage for a season." Na de AME Church proliferate among de freed blacks insyd de Southern United States.

## Early life den freedom

Na dem born am into slavery on February 14, 1760, on de Delaware property of Benjamin Chew. Wen na he be a kiddie, na dem sell Allen den ein family to Stokley Sturgis, wey na dem get a plantation. Secof financial problems, na he sell Richard ein mommie den two of ein five siblings. Na Allen get an older bro den sisto left plus am, wey na de three began dey attend meetings of de local Methodist Society, wich na be welcaming to enslaved den free Black people. Na dem encouraged by dema enslaver, Sturgis, although na he be unconverted. Na Richard teach einself to read den write. Na he join de Methodists at 17. N he begin dey evangelize, wey na e attract criticism den anger from local enslavers.

Allen den ein bro then redoubled dema efforts for Sturgis make he deflect criticism of religion ein influence on enslaved people.

Na de Reverend Freeborn Garrettson, wey, insyd 1775, free de people na he enslave, begin dey preach insyd Delaware. Na he dey among chaw Methodist den Baptist ministers wey na dem encourage enslavers to emancipate de people dem enslave after de American Revolutionary War. Wen Garrettson visit de Sturgis plantation to preach, na Allen ein master be persuaded dat slavery be wrong, wey na he offer enslaved people an opportunity make dem buy dema freedom. Na Allen perform extra work make he earn money den buy ein freedom insyd 1780. Na he then change ein name from "Negro Richard" to "Richard Allen."

## Marriage den family

Na Allen ein first wifey be named Flora. Na dem be married on October 19, 1790. Na she work very closely plus am during de early years of establishing de church, from 1787 to 1799. Na dem attend church school wey na dem work togeda, wey dem purchase land dem donate to de church anaa dem rent out to families. Na Flora die on March 11, 1801, after a long illness. Scholars no know if na dem get any kiddies. After he move to Philadelphia, na Allen marry Sarah Bass, a formerly enslaved person wey komot Virginia. Na he move to Philadelphia as a kiddie, wey na de couple meet around 1800. Na Richard den Sarah Allen get six kiddies. Na Sarah Allen highly be active in wat cam be de AME Church wey she be called de "Founding Mother."

## Death

Na Allen die at home on Spruce Street on March 26, 1831. Na dem bury at de church wey he found. Ein grave remain on de lower level.

## References


## Sources

* , scholarly biography
* Wesley, Charles H. (1935) *[https://books.google.com/books/about/Richard_Allen.html?id=G3M3AAAAMAAJ Richard Allen: Apostle of Freedom]*, Associated Publishers, Inc.
* *Who Was Who in America: Historical Volume, 1607–1896*. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1967.
* 

## External links

* James Henretta, "Richard Allen & African-American Identity", *Early America Review*, Spring 1997.
* "Richard Allen", *Africans in America*, PBS
* "The African Methodist Episcopalians" at the Wayback Machine (archived August 28, 2006), *Religious Movements*, University of Virginia
* "The Online Books Page, "Online Books by Richard Allen"
* Wesley, Charles. *Richard Allen: Apostle of Freedom* (1935), scholarly biography online
* Richard Allen, ''The Life, Experience, and Gospel Labours of the Rt. Rev. Richard Allen'', Philadelphia: Martin & Boden, Printers, 1833, full text online at *Documenting the American South*, University of North Carolina.
* Scot McKnight, "Shame on the Philadelphia Methodists".