Founding in Jackson, Tennessee (1870)

In 1870, Black Methodist leaders met in Jackson, Tennessee, to organize a new church body later known for its steady witness through hardship. The gathering took place in the tense years after the Civil War, when newly freed families faced poverty, intimidation, and the lingering structures of slavery. Yet these pastors and lay leaders pressed forward with orderly resolve—establishing a connectional church, adopting discipline, and committing themselves to shepherd God’s people with Scripture, prayer, and faithful preaching.

Bishops William H. Miles and Richard H. Vanderhorst

The election of William H. Miles and Richard H. Vanderhorst as bishops signaled more than administration; it declared spiritual leadership for a bruised flock. A bishop’s work included appointing preachers, guarding doctrine, and encouraging holiness of life. In an era when public life often denied Black dignity, their calling embodied Christian courage: to lead without bitterness, to endure with patience, and to insist that the church belongs to Christ, not to the approval of men. Their oversight helped strengthen congregations that needed both pastoral tenderness and firm biblical instruction.

Ministry After Emancipation: Congregations, Training, and Care

The new denomination labored to form congregations, train ministers, and provide mutual aid. Churches became centers of prayer, literacy, marriage and family stability, and neighborly support. This work was heroic in quiet ways—visiting the sick, burying the dead with hope, discipling children, and holding fast to worship when threats and prejudice sought to silence them. Their perseverance echoed the promise: “Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

Renaming and Continuing Witness (1954–Present)

In 1954 the fellowship took the name Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, reflecting its desire to place Christ at the center of identity and mission. Today, with about 3,000 congregations, its story remains a testimony that the Lord builds His church through steadfast faith, not favorable circumstances. The founders’ hope aligns with Scripture: “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord… your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).