Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church Kresson (1800’s) Vooreheels, NJ

Kresson, in old Glouster County, New Jersey changed its name several times from Pendleton to Milford and from Milford to Kresson.  Its location today is in Camden County.  A church was founded at Kresson in 1800.  Ceasar Cokney, church pioneer, shared his dream with several others to build a place of worship.  Some names of friends who shared and carried out that dream with him were Truit, Abbney, Purnell and Valentine.  A dirt floor, log cabin with doors at each end served as the first church.  The open front door provided a look out for fugitive slaves.  Runaway slaves came to Kresson on a regular basis from Atlantic County.

The Church at kresson became part of the Underground Railroad network around 1797.  Underground Railroad Operators who awaited their arrival guided them to Kresson and on to Lawnside.  The Church at Milford later became part of the A.M.E. circuit and was renamed Mt. Zion.  A.M.E. ministers began visiting Mt. Zion around 1848.  Some fugitives stayed in Kresson, others continued to Canada.

(SOURCE:  MT. ZION A.M.E. CHURCH KRESSON, 2004)