Little Jerusalem AME Church, church building in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Little Jerusalem AME Church is a small church building in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, constructed in 1830 with simple one-and-a-half-story architecture and a sloped roof. An adjacent cemetery holds graves of freed slaves and Black Civil War soldiers, making it a combined spiritual and memorial site.
Founded in 1820 by freed slaves and built in 1830, the church received support from Richard Allen, leader of the African Methodist Episcopal movement. For over a century, it served as the only Black church in the township and functioned as a crucial station on the Underground Railroad network.
The name "Little Jerusalem" reflects the freed Black community that gathered here to build a sanctuary of their own. The church and cemetery show how local African Americans created a cultural center where people learned, worshipped, and supported each other through challenging times.
The church sits on Bridgewater Road in Bensalem Township and is easily explored on foot, with the simple architecture and cemetery visible from the site. Visitors should know that the building no longer functions as an active church but has been protected through its listing on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980.
The church's pulpit was built by Richard Allen himself, creating a direct link between this local community and the founder of the African Methodist Episcopal movement. Remarkably, over one thousand people seeking freedom from slavery received shelter and aid here, connected through abolitionist Robert Purvis who transported escaping individuals from Philadelphia.
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