This edifice was the original site of the Metropolitan Church. It was constructed in 1842 on Elm Street in Hartford, CT. The society was founded by Rev. Hosea Easton in 1836 and was incorporated in 1841. Rev. Easton also served as the first pastor of the Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church in Hartford, CT (see below).
(Connecticut State Library)
(A/K/A Professor Jim)
In the 1830s, during a period of racial tensions, riots, and uprisings, Williams, a former slave, participated in the founding of the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Church in Hartford, CT. He took a leave of absence from Trinity College in Hartford, where he had worked for 50 years as a janitor and was affectionately known as Professor Jim. He took this leave to dedicate time to preaching the doctrines of the AME Zion Church, which had deeply influenced him. Williams is still celebrated at Trinity College today.
The Metropolitan Church served as a central hub for Black culture and the abolitionist movement, led by Rev. Hosea Easton. He spoke out against racism, slavery, and the African colonization movement and advocated for racial uplift. When Bushnell Park was constructed, the church relocated to Pearl Street In Hartford. Williams was committed to attending church every Sunday with his wife and was also a preacher there. He named his son Hosea, born in 1837, in honor of Reverend Easton. Allegedly, in 1839, when La Amistad was brought to New Haven, CT, to await trial, Williams went to visit the African men aboard the ship and preached to them.
(Connecticut State Library)
NATIONA
METROPOLITAN TODAY
Today, Metropolitan is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Connecticut Freedom Trail for its historical and architectural significance.
Metropolitan's historical significance is linked to its involvement with the Underground Railroad and the abolitionist movement. It served as a center for abolitionist activity and, according to tradition, provided a refuge for runaway slaves on their journey to freedom. As a result, it, along with its sister AME Zion churches, has been dubbed "The Freedom Church."
The church's architectural significance also contributed to its listing on the National Register of Historic Places, as it embodies the distinctive characteristics of High Victorian Gothic architecture.
OUR HISTORY
Sometime before 1827, the exact date is unknown, the African Religious Society came into existence, and owned a building on Talcott Street, in Hartford, CT, which they used as a place of worship. In 1833, a split occurred within the organization, resulting in the formation of two churches: one of the Congregational Faith and one of the Methodist Faith. The first was known as a Colored Congregational Church, and the other as the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church. For a brief period, each used the same place of worship.
In 1842, the Colored M.E. Church purchased land on Elm Street, which was sold to the City in 1856. The A.M.E. Zion Society purchased the property on Pearl Street sometime between 1842 and 1856 and assumed the name of the A.M.E. Zion Society. Rev. George A. Spywood, to whom the Colored M.E. Society conveyed its Elm Street property in trust in 1844, was active in the split of the A.M.E. Zion Church in 1852. This split was not repaired until 1860. During that time, the eastern part of the Church was referred to as "Zion," and the western part was called "Wesley." Interestingly, the property of the Colored M.E. Society on Elm Street was conveyed to the City of Hartford under the name of the A.M.E. Zion Society, and nowhere on the records do we find a change in the name of the M.E. Society, or of a union with the A.M.E. Zion Society.
In March 1862, the A.M.E. Zion Society conveyed its Pearl Street property to James Hosner, Thomas Smith, and Samuel Coit in trust, honor, and confidence. Grantees shall at all times suffer and permit the said Ecclesiastical Society, known as the A.M.E. Zion Society to use and occupy said land and building for a place of religious worship and for all the uses for which the said Ecclesiastical Society may lawfully need the same; and in further trust to sell and convey the said Iand and building whenever in concurrent opinion of the grantors as expressed by the 1st vote at a legal meeting duly called. The grantees, it shall be for the best interest of said Ecclesiastical Society to sell the same. In case of such sale, then further trust to invest the avails of such sale in another lot of land and house for worship for said Ecclesiastical Society. The first New England Annual Conference of the Church was held in 1845. Since that time, the members of the local Church have taken an active part in the subsequent Annual and General Conference of the Church and have been represented by delegates. While no written record of the admission of this local Society into the A.M.E. Zion Church can be found, the members of the local organization have for more than one hundred years acquiesced in the use of the name A.M.E. Zion Society, in the deeds and conveyances of their Property and in the description of the Church in the local Directories and State Manuals.
The Pearl Street Church was used until 1924, when the City of Hartford purchased the Pearl Street property for one hundred and twenty thousand ($120,000) dollars. This transaction was consummated under the pastorate of Rev. Amos J. Gorham (1925-1929). The proceeds from the sale of the church to the City of Hartford in 1924 enabled the congregation to purchase a beautiful church appropriately named Main Street Methodist, located at 2051 Main Street. This edifice was purchased for ninety-five thousand ($95,000) dollars. In addition, across the street from the church, two well-appointed houses and lots, built of brick and stone with all modern conveniences, were purchased for thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000). Under the pastorate of Rev. J.H. D. Bailey (1936-1940), the church was incorporated as the Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church, which it remains to this day.
The Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church, now 192 years old (1833-2025) is proud of its history and is poised to continue to grow and to develop ministries that will positively affect the lives of those persons who will share in our ministry.
PASTORS OF METROPOLITAN A.M.E. ZION CHURCH
Rev. Hosea Easton 1836-1842
Rev. George. A. Spywood 1842-1846
Rev. Joseph Hicks 1846-1848
Rev. Lovin Smith 1848-1849
Rev. Alexander Posey 1849-1850
Rev. John Mars 1850-1852
Rev. Samuel T. Gray, M.D. 1852-1857
Rev. John Williams 1857-1860
Rev. Samuel M.Giles 1860-1861
Rev. George H. Washington 1861-1862
Rev. John F. Lloyd 1862-1865
Rev. Joseph G. Smith 1865-1866
Rev. Peter Ross 1866-1867
Rev. Robert H.G. Dyson 1867-1873
Rev. Samuel C. Burchmore 1873-1880
Rev. Joseph Smith 1878-1880
Rev. Robert Russell Morris 1880-1884
Rev. G.H.S. Bell 1884-1887
Rev. Alfred Day 1889-1892
Rev. Lewis Henry Taylor 1892-1897
Rev. Andrew McCallum 1906-1908
Rev. Benjamin W. Swain 1908-1912
Rev. Richard Robert Ball 1912-1924
Rev. S.W. Weller 1924-1925
Rev. Amos Joseph Gorham 1925-1929
Rev. William Orlando Carrington 1929-1932
Rev. Henry Duvall Tillman 1932-1936
Rev. J.H.D. Bailey 1936-1940
Rev. William 0. Carson 1940-1942
Rev. Austin Paul Morris 1942-1949
Rev. Robert T. Hunter 1949-1961
Rev. Alfred E. White 1962-1984 (Elected and Consecrated Bishop of The A.M.E. Zion Church Denomination in 1984)
Rev. Raymond E. Price 1984-1994
Rev. Kenneth Monroe 1994-2004 (Elected and Consecrated Bishop of the A.M.E. Zion Church Denomination in 2004)
Rev. Terry L. Jones, Sr. 2004-2022
Rev. Samuel C. Blanks 2023-present
