Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
The Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church logo reads "founded in 1833." A history of the church, however, has traced its origins to a slightly earlier period. An unpublished copy of notes on the founding of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church recalls that the African Religion Society, organized prior to 1827, was the seedbed for what was to become Metropolitan AME Zion Church. The African Religion Society owned a building on Talcott Street. Members of the Society used the location as a place of worship. About 1833, the Society split. Two churches resulted; one of the Congregational Faith and one of the Methodist Faith. AM.E. Zion Society purchased land on Pearl Street. Sometime between 1842-1856 the Church took the name of the A. M. E. Zion Society. Rev. George Spywood, to whom the Colored M.E. Society conveyed its Elm Street property in trust in 1844, took an active part in the split of the AM.E. Zion Church in 1852 which was not healed until 1860, during that time the eastern part of the church was called "Zion" and the western part called "Wesley." (Excerpts of History of the Metropolitan A.M. E .Zion Church), 1-2. With it majestic roof and Hebrew inscriptions, the current building is an example of the reuse of sacred spaces. The church was once a synagogue.
Mrs. Emma Faust Tillman was the oldest member of Metropolitan. This is the church home of former Hartford Mayor Thirman Milner and Connecticut State Senator Eric Coleman. Mrs. Tillman’s nephew is Chief John Stewart Jr. and her niece is Mrs. Marilyn Strong, members of the Board of Directors of the John E. Rogers African American Cultural Center, inc.