Bethlehem AME Church (1830) Burlington, NJ

The Black people of Burlington worshipped in the White churches, but most of them attended the Broad Street Methodist Church. Dr. James Still, a Black preacher, felt separation would be advantageous so there would be no limitations on the privileges of the all-Black congregation.  (See Slavery in New Jersey, for more about Dr. James Still, William Still and the famous Still family.)

Uncle Nenny Jackson, an African-American Catholic and the town’s first railway porter, released claim to a truck patch he was renting, bought the land and gave it to the Black Methodists, who founded their church in 1830 and erected the first church building in 1836.  The church has existed on the present site since 1836. In 1855, a new structure was built and it was remodeled in 1873. This edifice underwent significant structural change again in the early 1980s. The small cemetery on the side of the church contains a few of the graves of the 212,000 African Americans who fought for the Union (Army and Navy) during the Civil War.  (See Historical Black Cemeteries for more about this).

(SOURCE: BETHEL AFRICAN METHODIST CHURCH)