Who was Absalom Jones?

WHO IS ABASALOM JONES AND WHY DO WE CELEBRATE HIM?

On Sunday, February 16th at 4.00 pm, St. Paul’s on the Green will host the Diocesan celebration of the life of the Reverend Absalom Jones with a special service of Holy Eucharist. But why do we celebrate Absalom Jones and what makes him important in the history of the Episcopal Church in the United States? Here is some important background on the significance of Absalom Jones to help you better appreciate why we mark the anniversary of his death on February 13 throughout the Episcopal community.

On January 1, 1808,  in response to the Abolition of the African slave trade that day by Congress, the Reverend Absalom Jones,  preached “A Thanksgiving Sermon” at St. Thomas (the African Episcopal Church) in  Philadelphia, remarking  “The history of the world shows us, that the deliverance of the children of Israel from their bondage, is not the only instance, in which it has pleased God to appear on behalf of oppressed and distressed nations, as the deliverer of the innocent, and of those who call upon his name. He is as unchangeable in his nature and character, as he is in his wisdom and power.” 

Blessed Absalom, as he is called, carries the title “blessed” in recognition of his "remarkable dedication to fighting for the freedom of enslaved people, particularly his own wife, and for founding the first Black congregation in the Episcopal Church, making him a significant figure in American history, especially within the context of Black liberation.” 

According to Arthur K. Sudler and William Carl Bolivar, Director of the Historical Society and Archives of the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, Absalom Jones was born enslaved to Abraham Wynkoop, a wealthy Anglican planter in 1746 in Delaware. He was working in the fields when Abraham recognized Absalom's intelligence and ordered that he be trained to work in the house where he eagerly accepted instruction in reading. He also saved money he was given and bought books (among them a primer, a spelling book, and a bible). Abraham Wynkoop died in 1753 and by 1755 his younger son Benjamin had inherited the plantation. When Absalom was sixteen, Benjamin Wynkoop sold the plantation and Absalom’s mother, sister, and five brothers. Wynkoop brought Absalom to Philadelphia where he opened a store and joined St. Peter’s Church. In Philadelphia, Benjamin Wynkoop permitted Absalom to attend a night school for black people that was operated by Quakers following the tradition established by abolitionist teacher Anthony Benezet. It is also interesting to note that Benjamin Wynkoop who owned Absalom for some 38 years was a vestryman, warden and benefactor of Christ Church and St. Peter’s in Philadelphia, two historic congregations that helped give birth both to the nation and the Episcopal Church. 

At twenty, with the permission of their masters, Absalom married Mary Thomas. a fellow parishioner at St. Pater's  who was enslaved to Sarah King. The Rev. Jacob Duche performed the wedding at Christ Church. Absalom and his father-in-law, John Thomas, used their savings along with donations and loans primarily from prominent Quakers, to purchase Mary’s freedom. Absalom and Mary worked very hard to repay the money borrowed to buy her freedom and also saved enough money to buy property and Absalom’s freedom. Absalom repeatedly asked Benjamin Wynkoop to allow him to buy his freedom. Though Wynkoop refused several times, Absalom persisted because as long as he was enslaved, Wynkoop could take his property and his money. Finally, in 1784, Benjamin Wynkoop freed Absalom by granting him a manumission. Absalom continued to work in Wynkoop’s store as a paid employee.

Absalom left St. Peter’s Church and began worshipping at St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church. There, he met Richard Allen who had been engaged to preach at St. George’s and the two became lifelong friends, Together, in 1787, they founded the Free African Society, a mutual aid benevolent organization that was the first of its kind organized by and for black people. Members of this organization met regularly and paid dues which were used to benefit those in need. This organization was crucial in caring for the sick and dying of Philadelphia when a yellow fever epidemic swept the city in 1793.  

At St George’s, Absalom and Richard served as lay ministers for the black membership. The active evangelism of Absalom Jones and Richard Allen greatly increased black membership at St George’s. The black members worked hard to help raise money to build an upstairs gallery intended to enlarge the church. The church leadership decided to segregate the black worshippers in the gallery without notifying them. During a Sunday morning service, a dispute arose over the seats black members had been instructed to take in the gallery, and ushers attempted to physically remove them by first accosting Absalom Jones. Most of the black members present indignantly walked out of St. George’s en masse.

Prior to the incident at St. George’s, the Free African Society had initiated religious services. Some of these services were presided over by The Rev. Joseph Pilmore, an assistant at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. The Society established communication with similar black groups in other cities. In 1792 the Society began to build the African Church of Philadelphia. The church membership took a denominational vote and decided to affiliate with the Episcopal Church. Richard Allen withdrew from the effort as he favored affiliation with the Methodist Church. Absalom Jones was asked to provide pastoral leadership and after prayer and reflection he accepted the call.

The African Church was dedicated on July 17, 1794. Soon after the congregation applied for membership in the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania on the following conditions: 1) that they be received as an organized body; 2) that they have control over their own local affairs; 3) that Absalom Jones be licensed as a lay reader, and, if qualified, be ordained as a minister. On October 17, 1794 the parish was formally received into the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania and renamed St. Thomas African Episcopal Church. St. Thomas was the first black Episcopal parish in the United States. Bishop William White ordained Jones as a deacon in 1795 and as a priest on September 21, 1802.

The Reverend Absalom Jones was described as “an earnest preacher who denounced slavery and warned the oppressors to “clean their hands of slaves.” To him, God was the Father, who always acted on “behalf of the oppressed and distressed.” But it was his constant visiting and mild manner that made him beloved by his congregation and by the community. St Thomas Church grew to over 500 members during its first year. The congregants formed a day school and were active in moral uplift, self-empowerment, and anti-slavery activities. Known as “the Black Bishop of the Episcopal Church,” Jones was an example of persistent faith in God and in the Church as God’s instrument. Jones died on 13 February 1818.

Writing in a recent ECCT Blog the Reverend Sarah Louise Woodford, Canon for Communications & Media acknowledged the following noteworthy achievements about Absalom Jones: “During his lifetime, Jones founded the Female Benevolent Society and the African Friendly Society. In late 1799/early 1800, he petitioned Congress to abolish the slave trade and to provide for gradual emancipation of existing slaves.”

The Rev. Cn. D Littlepage, Canon for Advocacy, Racial Justice & Reconciliation says, “It’s important to continue to celebrate the Rev. Absalom Jones, not just as an historical first, but as a witness to the kind of persevering faith that continually seeks to live into the kingdom of God despite opposition from the world—and even the church!”