December 15, 1870 - First CME Church Formed

After the American Civil War, African American Methodists felt the need to create their own denomination. With the blessing and fervent support of Methodist leadership, former slaves met on December 15, 1870, in Jackson, Tennessee, to form the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1954, they dropped the name “Colored” and replaced it with “Christian.” Pictured is the marker in Jackson, Tennessee, noting where the first Mother Liberty CME church was formed.