Address 160 W 146th St, New York, NY 10039, USA Similar Mother AME Zion Church, Church On the Hill, Ame Zion Church, Mt Pisgah Church, Mother AME Zion Church | ||
Kurtis blow at the greater hood memorial ame zion church
The Greater Hood Memorial AME Zion Church was the first African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, in Harlem, New York. It received notoriety as the "Oldest Continung" Black church in Harlem. The church’s first house of worship was erected on East 117th Street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues in 1843.
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History
However, some 20th century celebrations mark the anniversary as 1850 or as early as 1830. A copy of the church's 1840 Articles of Incorporation at the New York County Clerk's Office indicates that the congregation was several years old by mid-century.
Other historical sources suggest an even earlier date. A letter connected with James Varick, the first Bishop of the AME Zion church, says that Peter VanHas started the church in 1822. Christopher Rush, Varick’s successor, wrote that in May 1825, VanHas was ordained an elder and assigned to the “Society in Harlem”. In 1827 Timothy Eato was assigned to continue the work, followed by Levin Smith in 1830. The fact that Varick and Rush lived during this time, gives support for 1822 as the founding date.
The church relocated several times. On July 22, 1951 a parade through the streets of Harlem celebrated the moving of the church to the new location at 160 West 146th Street, between 7th Avenue and Lenox Avenue. The service began at four o’clock with and was attended by about 1500 people.
The church's mission is to present the Christian gospel to Christians and those who are unchurched. The church primarily reaches out to the disenfranchised, poor and oppressed. The worship service style is consistent with those of many African-American churches.
Timeline
The church is incorporating the Greater Hood Memorial Community Based Corporation, which will look into ways to minister to those who have been diagnosed with autism, as well as engage in other similar and community based endeavors.
Hip Hop Church
One of the more celebrated ministries at Greater Hood is Hip Hop Church. founded by Kurtis Blow; Stephen Pogue and John Wright. It received world-wide acclaim for ministering to those who would not attend a regular Sunday Service. Every Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. gospel rap, hip-hop beats, gospel music and preaching. Many have given their lives to the Lord through the Hip Hop Church experience.