Archaeology at the Asbury United Methodist Church

Archaeology at the Asbury United Methodist Church. . , Once the railroad and new jobs came to the region in the 1860s, The Hill Community grew, as did its church congregations., The Asbury U.M. (then Methodist Episcopal) and Bethel African Methodist Episcopal churches were constructed in 1877. They became the centers of spiritual and social life of the next century., How did residents of The Hill Community find opportunities for empowerment that were limited by racial barriers?, Beyond religious services, Asbury Church has hosted numerous political, social and entertainment events., From large regional church conferences, to school graduations, to charity dances and sporting events, Asbury provided a meeting place for residents to organize and find opportunities for enrichment and empowerment., This venue was especially during the Jim Crow-era when racial segregation laws severely limited opportunities for African Americans., Tradition of Empowerment , Out of The Hill Community's long tradition of empowerment, University of Maryland archaeologists have collaborated with local groups including funding agent, Historic Easton Inc., to train African American students in excavation procedures, recording and digging., Since 2010, Asbury U. M. Church has actively supported the archaeology students with housing and use of the Asbury Parsonage facilities., These and other efforts are helping students launch their careers at historical archaeologists in a field underrepresented by African Americans., Site History

1832 . Methodist Episcopal records show preachers of color licensed on the Talbot Circuit before 1832. , 1836 . Four colored classes meet on the first Monday, second Sunday and third Sunday in Old Carriage House on the east side of Easton. , 1844 . James McNeal sells land that will become the present site of Asbury Church to the Trustees of Ebenezer for $18. , 1847 . The four classes of 1836 are organized as Asbury Episcopal Church. Trustees of Ebenezer convey land to Trustees of Asbury to erect a house of worship. , 1876 . Wood frame church is moved to the rear of the land. By fall, the foundation of the present church is laid. , 1877 . Wood-frame church is destroyed by a roof fire on April 13. On September 16, the basement of the new Asbury M.E. Church is dedicated. , 1878 . Frederick Douglass dedicates the new brick church structure. The bell tower is added in the 1890s. , 1884 . Asbury hosts the Delaware Annual Conference of the M.E. Church. , 1968 . Joines United Methodist conference as Asbury United Methodist Church.

, [Captions:] , Asbury U.M. and Bethel A.M.E. churches provided facilities and services that were otherwise not available to African Americans in a segregated society.