Join Historic Albany and Israel AME Church trustee, Lynn Canton, for a tour around the historic Israel AME Church highlighting special features that were critical in the church's participation in the Underground Railroad and talk about its fascinating history. In 1828 Reverend William Cornish was assigned to the City of Albany NY to organize African Americans under the motto of the founding fathers; “God our Father, Christ our redeemer, man our brother.” The history of Israel AME Church parallels that of the National AME Church; People of African descent were attending the Methodist Episcopal Church on State Street in Albany, New York when they were asked to pay pew taxes. They left the Church and formed the Free African Society. In April of 1829, the act of incorporation for Israel AME Church was recorded. The present Church was designed and built between 1845 and 1854 by Reverend Thomas Jackson who served as Pastor for 11 years. In its 190-year history, over 70 pastors have served this historic Church. The Church served as a station on the Underground Railroad throughout the Civil War, assisting enslaved people in their struggle for freedom and freed men and women in their spiritual struggle. Harriet Tubman slept in the Church and Fredrick Douglass spoke in it.

This workshop is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.