Clayton in Kent County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Byrd's African Methodist Episcopal Church
Photographed By Don Morfe, October 13, 2019
1. Byrd's Africian Methodist Episcopal Church Marker
Inscription.
Byrd's African Methodist Episcopal Church. . In the early 1890s Clayton was home to an increasing population of African-Americans, many of whom were railroad workers. Byrd's African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church was built in 1894 to accommodate this growing community who previously had to walk several miles to Mount Friendship Church for services. The land was purchased from Willis C. Dickerson by the trustees of the Clayton A.M.E. Church for 100 dollars on July 13, 1894. The Church takes its name from Reverend Elijah Byrd who served as pastor for both Mt. Friendship Church and the newly established Byrd's A.M.E. Church. The two congregations maintained very close ties and in 1901 they jointly purchased five acres of land from John P. Hudson for the formation of an annual ten day camp-meeting intended to raise funds and provide an inspirational vacation for members. Byrd's A.M.E. Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and continues to serve the spiritual needs of the Clayton community.
In the early 1890s Clayton was home to an increasing population of African-Americans, many of whom were railroad workers. Byrd's African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church was built in 1894 to accommodate this growing community who previously had to walk several miles to Mount Friendship Church for services. The land was purchased from Willis C. Dickerson by the trustees of the Clayton A.M.E. Church for 100 dollars on July 13, 1894. The Church takes its name from Reverend Elijah Byrd who served as pastor for both Mt. Friendship Church and the newly established Byrd's A.M.E. Church. The two congregations maintained very close ties and in 1901 they jointly purchased five acres of land from John P. Hudson for the formation of an annual ten day camp-meeting intended to raise funds and provide an inspirational vacation for members. Byrd's A.M.E. Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and continues to serve the spiritual needs of the Clayton community.
Erected 2012 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number KC-112.)
Location. 39° 17.532′ N, 75° 37.602′ W. Marker is in Clayton, Delaware, in Kent County. Marker is on Dickerson Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 131 Dickerson Street, Clayton DE 19938, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. Byrd's Africian Methodist Episcopal Church Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 31, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 20, 2019, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 249 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 20, 2019, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
