Bethel A.M.E. Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1837 in Reading, this brick and stucco church has a gable roof and a three-story brick tower with a pyramidal roof. It was rebuilt in c. 1867-69 and remodeled in 1889, when the brick front facade was added. The congregation financed the building from its own resources, drawing on the efforts of four local men: Samuel Murray, a free black shoemaker who owned thirteen other properties and used them as collateral, became the first local pastor, while George Dillen, Jacob Ross and Isaac Parker also helped build it. The church is regarded as a pioneering effort of the African Methodist Episcopal movement in Pennsylvania, where black churches developed slowly outside cities such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Its resources were occasionally used to shelter fugitive slaves, and Jacob Ross, one of the founders, had escaped slavery in Virginia. The interior is plain, with one large room on each floor and a raised dais.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church was built with the private resources of its congregation and is the only black church in Berks County built this way, one of only three black churches known from the county. It is presented as a pioneering effort of the AME movement in Pennsylvania, and its founders are credited with aiding fugitive slaves.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79002167, listed September 7, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 119 N. 10th St, Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | September 7, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002167 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Samuel Murray, George Dillen, Jacob Ross, Isaac Parker |
| Areas of significance | Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Church records are to be preserved and the building is described as being planned for cultural and museum use, but no current condition is firmly stated beyond the altered/deteriorated checkbox. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Coordinates | 40.33749, -75.91770 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79002167.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4897840
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.