Richard Allen, founder and first bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, compiled and published the first hymnal by a Black American:
“A Collection of Spiritual Songs and Hymns, Selected from Various Authors”.
This hymnal was released in 1794 and became a cornerstone of worship in the early Black church, reflecting the spiritual life and resilience of enslaved and free African Americans.
? While the AME Church was officially founded in 1816, Richard Allen’s work in creating Black religious institutions and cultural materials began decades earlier.
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