Absalom Jones: America’s First Black Priest and a Voice for Freedom

Absalom Jones: America’s First Black Priest and a Voice for Freedom

When we talk about the fight for freedom in early America, names like Washington, Jefferson, and Adams often dominate the story. But among the many overlooked figures who shaped the nation’s moral conscience is Absalom Jones (1746–1818) — an enslaved man who rose to become the first African American ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church and a leading voice for racial justice in the early Republic.

From Slavery to Self-Determination

Absalom Jones was born into slavery in Sussex County, Delaware. As a young man, he was sold to a Philadelphia merchant, where he learned to read and write — a rare opportunity for enslaved people at the time. With determination and careful saving, Jones eventually purchased freedom for his wife, Mary, and later for himself in 1784.

His journey from bondage to freedom wasn’t just personal; it symbolized the larger struggle of Black Americans to claim dignity and equality in a new nation that declared “all men are created equal.”

Building a Community of Faith

Together with his friend Richard Allen, Jones became a lay preacher at St. George’s Methodist Church in Philadelphia. Their powerful sermons attracted large numbers of Black worshippers. However, as their congregation grew, white church leaders forced Black members to sit in segregated balconies — an act of humiliation that prompted Jones and Allen to walk out during a service in protest.

In 1787, they founded the Free African Society, one of the first mutual aid organizations in the United States, dedicated to supporting the welfare, education, and spiritual growth of free Black people.

Founding of the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas

By 1794, Absalom Jones and his followers established the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas in Philadelphia — the first Black Episcopal congregation in the United States. Three years later, in 1802, Jones was ordained as the first Black Episcopal priest, marking a milestone in American religious and racial history.

The church became not only a spiritual haven but also a hub for activism, education, and abolitionist organizing. Jones’s sermons blended Christian faith with the demand for justice, declaring that slavery was incompatible with divine law.

Faith in Action: The Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793

During Philadelphia’s devastating yellow fever epidemic, Jones and members of the Free African Society stayed behind to nurse the sick and bury the dead, even as many white citizens fled the city. Their bravery contradicted racist stereotypes and revealed a deep moral strength rooted in faith and community.

A Legacy of Liberation

Absalom Jones continued to advocate for the end of slavery and for equal rights until his death in 1818. His life stands as a testament to resilience, moral courage, and the power of faith-driven activism.

Today, the Episcopal Church honors Absalom Jones every February 13, celebrating his legacy as a pioneer of Black leadership, compassion, and resistance in American history.

Further Reading:

• The African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas archives

• "Freedom’s Prophet: Bishop Richard Allen, the AME Church, and the Black Founding Fathers" by Richard S. Newman

• Absalom Jones and Richard Allen, “A Narrative of the Proceedings of the Black People During the Late Awful Calamity in Philadelphia” (1794)