# African Methodist Episcopal Church (1816)

URL: https://christianity-history.com/timeline/1816-african-methodist-episcopal-church
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Themes: Theology

Richard Allen founds the first independent Black denomination in the United States. At this point in the timeline (1816), the Bishop of Rome was Pope Pius VII (14 March 1800 – 20 August 1823).

## Why it matters
African Methodist Episcopal Church mattered because it shaped how Christians understand God, Christ, salvation and the church.

Pope at the time: [Pope Pius VII](https://christianity-history.com/popes/pope-pius-vii)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — African Methodist Episcopal Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Methodist_Episcopal_Church)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — African Methodist Episcopal Church](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=African+Methodist+Episcopal+Church)
- [Wikipedia — Enlightenment and Revival (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity#Modern_era)