Newtown in Bucks County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

St. Mark AME Zion Church

— Newtown Heritage Walk —

Photographed by Pete Skillman, December 23, 2024

1. St. Mark AME Zion Church Marker

Inscription.

St. Mark AME Zion Church. . Early records indicate that the A.M.E. Zion Church played an important role in the history of African Americans in Newtown. St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church has historically been a source of fellowship and spiritual sustenance to Newtown's African American community since the early 1800s.

St. Mark A.M.E. Zion Church was founded in Newtown circa 1820 as the John Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Church. Members built a small frame meetinghouse high on the hill overlooking Newtown at the corner of Frost Lane and Congress Street, which included the adjacent cemetery. Around 1840, the building burned and the fire could be seen for miles; thus, the nickname Light House Hill. The second structure was built at the intersection of Frost Lane and State Street, but that building also burned shortly thereafter in 1857.

The third structure was erected behind 146 North Congress Street (shown in top photo). In the late 1800s, this site was the worshipping place of both the Methodist and the Baptist faiths. The Baptists eventually built their own church now located at 218 North State Street (Heritage Walk Site #20). In 1897, the third structure was supplanted by the present Gothic Revival brick church located at 136 North Congress Street (shown in bottom photo) and is a registered historic building. In 1921, ground was broken for the building of the parsonage and work was completed by 1922.

For nearly two centuries, St. Mark Church has survived the changing American cultural landscape "walking by faith". Today, St. Mark is a multi racial, multi-cultural church, proud of its heritage of fighting for social change and equality, while serving God and, tending to the ever-changing needs of the community.

Site Sponsor: The Friends of St. Mark

Design and layout donated by Mike DiFiori, www.BuzzGraphicDesign.com, Newtown, PA

[Captions]:
John Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Church, circa 1895, which was located behind 146 North Congress Street

St. Mark AME Zion Church, circa 1915.

Early records indicate that the A.M.E. Zion Church played an important role in the history of African Americans in Newtown. St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church has historically been a source of fellowship and spiritual sustenance to Newtown's African American community since the early 1800s.

St. Mark A.M.E. Zion Church was founded in Newtown circa 1820 as the John Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Church. Members built a small frame meetinghouse high on the hill overlooking Newtown at the corner of Frost Lane and Congress Street, which included the adjacent cemetery. Around 1840, the building burned and the fire could be seen for miles; thus, the nickname Light House Hill. The second structure was built at the intersection of Frost Lane and State Street, but that building also burned shortly thereafter in 1857.

The third structure was erected behind 146 North Congress Street (shown in top photo). In the late 1800s, this site was the worshipping place of both the Methodist and the Baptist faiths. The Baptists eventually built their own church now located at 218 North State Street (Heritage Walk Site #20). In 1897, the third structure was supplanted by the present Gothic Revival brick church located at 136 North Congress Street (shown in bottom photo) and is a registered historic building. In

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1921, ground was broken for the building of the parsonage and work was completed by 1922.

For nearly two centuries, St. Mark Church has survived the changing American cultural landscape "walking by faith". Today, St. Mark is a multi racial, multi-cultural church, proud of its heritage of fighting for social change and equality, while serving God and, tending to the ever-changing needs of the community.

Site Sponsor: The Friends of St. Mark

Design & layout donated by Mike DiFiori, www.BuzzGraphicDesign.com, Newtown, PA

[Captions]:
John Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Church, circa 1895, which was located behind 146 North Congress Street

St. Mark AME Zion Church, circa 1915.

Erected 2007 by Newtown Historic Association. (Marker Number 25.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Disasters • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania, Newtown Heritage Walk series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1820.

Location. 40° 13.876′ N, 74° 56.038′ W. Marker is in Newtown, Pennsylvania, in Bucks County. It is on North Congress Street, on the right when traveling

St. Mark AME Zion Church Marker - wide view, with church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Pete Skillman, December 23, 2024

2. St. Mark AME Zion Church Marker - wide view, with church

south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 129 N Congress St, Newtown PA 18940, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania and in Greater Philadelphia.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Wesley Hall (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Daniel Dolohan House (about 700 feet away); Newtown Fire Association (about 700 feet away); Newtown Theatre (about 700 feet away); The Dolohan House (about 700 feet away); North State Street (approx. 0.2 miles away); Newtown Common & Creek (approx. 0.2 miles away); Newtown Borough Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Newtown.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 24, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 23, 2024, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. This page has been viewed 213 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 23, 2024, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware.