Churches
The best places to begin in this effort to connect with the ancestors are churches. Faith Congregational Church is the oldest predominantly African American church in Hartford. Established in 1819, Faith has served as a place of worship, meeting place, and developer of leaders. In fact, this congregation became one of the major contributors to the fight to eradicate slavery. Rev. Dr. James W.C. Pennington, one of the greatest leaders ever live in Hartford, wrote, preached, and organized abolition meetings. The fugitive blacksmith stole, who stole himself from slavery, recognized the need to defend the right to be free for other people. The trial of the Amistad captives gave ample opportunity for Pennington and other abolitionists to return Singbeh Pieh and other former captives home. The ranks of the Connecticut 29th regiment of the Civil War included men from what became Faith. While Faith clearly served as the foundation for autonomous organized religion among African Americans, it was not the only African American church of the 19th century. Current congregations such as Metropolitan AME Zion, Union Baptist Church, and Shiloh Baptist Church can also trace their roots to the 19th Century. In the Black Church in the African American Experience C. Eric Lincoln and Lawrence Mamiya refer to the AME Zion denomination as the “freedom church.” Metropolitan certainly meets that height of greatness. While contributing to the effort to eradicate the evils of slavery and racism, AME Zion surpassed a number of denominations in its willingness to ordained women. In fact, in 1922 Metropolitan hosted an evening service with Rev. Mary Small of York, Pennsylvania as the minister for the hour.
Still today, Union Baptist and Shiloh Baptist remain shining lights in the community. Church members relate the church’s beginning a railroad boxcar. Their outreach ministries include after-school educational support and a breakfast ministry for the needy. Although only a small sampling of their efforts, Union continues to be an oasis. Shiloh Baptist was the first group of African American church people to build their own edifice. The name of Rev. Robert Moody, legendary minister, still brings shivers to those that knew him. African American ministers like Moody and those before and after supported and encouraged educational attainment.