[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 193 (Tuesday, November 28, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1610]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING AFRICAN EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. THOMAS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DWIGHT EVANS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 28, 2017

  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a devoted and 
inspirational church, the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas 
(AECST), of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  This year AECST celebrates 225 years of dedicated ministry and 
service to the community of Philadelphia. AECST has provided 225 years 
of ``Legacy, Faith, and Hope''. AECST was founded in 1792, by Reverend 
Absalom Jones and stands as the first Black Episcopal Church in the 
U.S.A. It is also recognized as one of two oldest black churches in 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  Historically, AECST was founded to provide religious support, foster 
personal and religious freedoms, and self-determination for persons of 
African descent. The original African Church was an outgrowth of the 
Free African Society, a mutual aid organization established in 1787 by 
Absalom Jones, Richard Allen and others to assist the Black population 
in Philadelphia. The early religious services were held in private 
homes and in a school. Within the congregation were many who, because 
of growing racial tension and insults had followed the lay preachers, 
Absalom Jones and Richard Allen, broke away from the St. George's 
Methodist Church. Affiliation with the Episcopal Church was ratified in 
1794. The Reverend Absalom Jones became the first Episcopal priest of 
African American descent and the first rector of St. Thomas' Church.
  AECST has been in the vanguard of action to sustain the legacy of 
humanitarianism and community outreach passed down from its founders. 
Admirably, AECST's clergy and parishioners have played key roles in the 
abolition, anti-slavery and Underground Railroad movements and the 
early equal rights movement of the 1800's. Over the past fifty years, 
AECST has figured prominently in the civil rights movement, The NAACP, 
Union of Black Episcopalians, Opportunities Industrialization Center, 
Philadelphia Interfaith Action and The Episcopal Church Women. 
Paramount, however, has been the movement to uphold the knowledge and 
value of the Black presence in the Episcopal Church. Today, that 
tradition continues with an ever-growing membership and through a host 
of ministries such as Christian Formation, the Chancel Choir, Gospel 
Choir, Jazz Ensemble, Men's Fellowship, Young Adult and Youth 
Ministries, a Church School, Health Ministry, Caring Ministry, and a 
Shepherding Program.
  Today, AECST flourishes as an open, Christ-centered community of 
faith where the Gospel is taught, lived and spread. As evidenced 
through AECST's history, they have a longstanding dedication toward 
advocating and improving the lives of others.
  The 2nd Congressional District of Pennsylvania extends gratitude to 
the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas for its dedicated support to 
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

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