about the first district
The First District is steeped in history as the birthplace of African Methodist Episcopalism in 1787, and is blessed to be home to some of the most historic church buildings in the entire AME family. Since its inception, the district has grown to include 300 individual congregations.
One of these, the Mother Bethel AME Church in Philadelphia, was built in 1797 by AME founder Richard Allen on what remains the oldest parcel of land continuously owned by blacks in the nation. This building continues to serve as a landmark to all members of our faith, which spans three continents and has over 2.5 million members.
The First District has seen significant changes recently, including a relocation of its headquarters to 3801 Market Street. Under the new leadership of Bishop Richard Franklin Norris, who just completed his first year as Bishop to the First District, we have continued to build on this positive momentum.
Today, the First District has extended its ministry to encompass the entire community, with programs specifically geared to women, men and young adults as well as educational initiatives aligned with Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other scholarships. Find a congregation near you and see how you can become involved in our programs.