Trinity Episcopal Church St. Louis will join the Absalom Jones celebration, America’s First Black Priest, on Saturday, Feb. 18.
The church’s Facebook page encouraged its members to attend the program.
Absalom Jones Celebration 2023
The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri website announced that the theme for this year’s celebration is Living the Legacy. They added that the Diocesan Dismantling Racism Commission invites everyone to attend its yearly commemoration of America’s first Black priest, Jones.
They posted the event schedule, where registration and socializing start at 10:30 a.m. They reported providing light refreshments such as water, coffee, and tea.
As further noted, they would start the Holy Eucharist at 11 a.m., led by the Diocesan Gospel Choir singing. Then after lunch, they added that there would be a Plenary Session.
The website said that Rt. Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burros, Bishop of the Diocese of Indianapolis and Rt. Rev. Deon Johnson, Bishop of the Diocese of Missouri, would lead the session.
Besides, they mentioned that there would be breakout sessions in the afternoon.
America’s First Black Priest
The Episcopal Archives website revealed that Jones was the first black priest in America. They stated that he was born in slavery in Delaware amidst the debate about slavery as immoral and undemocratic.
In addition, the website emphasized that he studied how to read by himself using the New Testament as one of his references.
They exposed that Jone’s mother, sister, and five brothers were sold when he was 16. His master brought him to Philadelphia, where he joined a night school for African-Americans. They added that the Quakers operated the school.
Beginning of His Freedom
Moreover, they stated that when he gained his freedom in 1784, he worked as a lay minister for the black membership at St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church with his friend Richard Allen.
According to the same website, they found the Free African Society to help liberate enslaved people. As added on the website, they also provide sustenance and spiritual assistance to widows, orphans, and the poor.
As further noted, Jones and Allen’s active evangelism had significantly impacted black membership at St. George’s. But, they stated that the vestry decided to separate African Americans into an upstairs gallery without notice in 1791.
The website explained that they were alarmed by the increase in black attendance. They revealed that they removed the church when the ushers tried to remove the black congregants.
Birth of First African Church
The same website posted that Jones and Allen, with the help of local Quakers and Episcopalians, built the First African Church in Philadelphia in 1972. They said that same year; they applied to become a part of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
In addition, they noted that they laid their diocese three standards. These requirements include the church must be accepted as an already organized body. Also, they are mandated to have control over their activities.
Lastly, upon joining the Protestant Episcopal Church, they required Jones to be licensed as a lay reader and, if qualified, be ordained as its minister.
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