Mount zion AME Church (1834) and Mount Zion Cemetery Woolwich, NJ

The Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in the late 18th century.  Prior to the construction of the church edifice, members gathered for camp meeting and worship services in various homes, escaping from the discrimination found in White congregations.  In 1834, church members erected the Mount Zion A.M.E. Church building in Small Gloucester (also called Dutchtown), Woolwich Township near Swedesboro in Gloucester County, New Jersey. The building has a gable roof.

The one-story rectangular building has fieldstone (mortise with concrete) as its foundation and clap-board on its exterior.  Mr. J. Bulaugh, a constructor, made additions to the building in 1837. In 1887, Joseph Moore, an African-American builder from Merchantville, made improvements to the original structure.  Aluminum siding was installed on the building when the social hall and the kitchen increased the rear section of the edifice in 1959.  In the mid-19th century, the church established the Mount Zion Cemetery, located about 40 yards west of the church edifice. The cemetery property contains one-fourth acre of land donated by Mr. Peter Murray, a member of the church.  During the years, the church has buried over 200 members at this location.  Currently the surrounding land’s usage includes various stages of new housing developments to the south, west, north and farm land to the western border of the cemetery.  (For more on church burial grounds, see Historic Black Cemeteries.)

(SOURCE:  MOUNT ZION AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH)