On July 17, 1794, Absalom Jones and his followers dedicated the African Church of St. Thomas in Philadelphia. This church was notable for being one of the first African American Episcopal churches in the United States. Afterward, on August 12, 1794, the congregation affiliated with the Protestant Episcopal Church, marking a significant step in the religious and social history of African Americans in the early republic. Absalom Jones, a prominent African American leader and the first African American priest in the Episcopal Church, played a key role in advocating for African American autonomy in religious practices. This was an important moment in the broader movement for religious and social independence among African Americans during the 18th and 19th centuries.