First Israel AMEC, Albany

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The Oldest Black Church in Upstate New York
“An Historic Church Empowered to Serve the Present Age” 

Founded in 1828, First Israel African Methodist Episcopal Church stands as the oldest Black church in the Albany area and among the oldest in the Western New York Connection. Its origins trace to a small but determined community of Black believers who, though few in number, were rich in courage, foresight, and spiritual conviction. They acquired property to create a place where they could worship freely, without fear of humiliation or exclusion.

Bishop Richard Allen assigned Rev. William Cornish as the founding pastor. By April 1829, the church was formally incorporated, though evidence suggests the congregation’s roots extend as far back as 1822 through property records and burial accounts. The church emerged within a broader movement born out of resistance to segregated worship, following the 1787 protest at St. George’s Methodist Church in Philadelphia, which ultimately led to the founding of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1816.

From its earliest days, Israel A.M.E. Church stood at the intersection of faith and freedom. The church is historically recognized as a station on the Underground Railroad, with figures such as Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass connected to abolitionist efforts in Albany. It is said that Harriet Tubman found rest within its walls, while Stephen Meyers coordinated Underground Railroad operations throughout the region.

During the Civil War, more than forty Black men from Albany, encouraged by Meyers, gathered at Israel before departing to serve in Massachusetts regiments after being denied entry into New York units.

The church also nurtured leaders within its own community. Among them was Benjamin Latimore, a Revolutionary War veteran who successfully petitioned for back pay and used his resources to establish the first school for Black children in Albany. His life stands as a testimony to perseverance, vision, and commitment to future generations.

Israel’s worship life reflects a rich blend of African and West Indian spiritual traditions—marked by warmth, communal unity, rhythmic expression, and active congregational participation.

The present church property on Hamilton Street was acquired over time under the leadership of early pastors, including Rev. Elias Hall and Rev. George Weir. In 1842, trustees purchased the land for $1,800, and by the mid-19th century the current edifice had been constructed.

Over the decades, the building has undergone numerous renovations to preserve both its structure and its sacred purpose. Major improvements occurred between 1952 and 1956 under Rev. G. E. Stewart, including basement reconstruction and installation of modern heating. In 1957, under Rev. B. C. Burton, the sanctuary was extensively renovated with new walls, flooring, stained glass memorials, and musical instruments.

Further enhancements followed in 1966, 1973, and the 1980s, with significant restoration efforts culminating in a rededication of the edifice in 1985 under Rev. James E. F. Lawrence.

A defining feature of the sanctuary is the mural behind the altar, painted by students from the College of Saint Rose, depicting both the history of Israel Church and the African Methodist Episcopal tradition. The building, located at 381 Hamilton Street, continues to stand as both a historic landmark and a living witness—housing a sanctuary, balcony, and fellowship spaces that have served generations.

Through shifting seasons, cultural transitions, and institutional challenges, First Israel A.M.E. Church has endured as a testimony to faithful stewardship. From its earliest members to its present congregation, it has remained a place where faith, freedom, and community converge.

Recognized as a New York State Historic Site and formally acknowledged within the Capital District’s historical framework, Israel continues to embody its calling as “an historic church empowered to serve the present age.”

We honor the generations of pastors and members who have carried this work forward, trusting that the same God who sustained Israel through nearly two centuries will continue to guide its future.

• Rev. Jeremiah Miller (1826)
• Rev. William Cornish, Organizer (1826)
• Rev. Richard Williams (1829)
• Rev. Elias N. Hall (1840)
• Rev. Jabez E. Campbell (1843; later Bishop, 1864)
• Rev. Thomas W. Jackson (1845)
• Rev. H. George Weir (1850)
• Rev. Charles Burch (1857)
• Rev. Abram Crippen (1860)
• Rev. Leonard Patterson (1861)
• Rev. J. W. Williams (1862)
• Rev. L. B. Hamilton (1864)
• Rev. William W. Grimes (1865)
• Rev. Francis Y. Peck (1866)
• Rev. W. Weinder (1867)
• Rev. W. L. Laws (1869)
• Rev. W. H. Watson (1869)
• Rev. H. L. Rhodes (1870)
• Rev. D. Dorell (1873; 1880)
• Rev. L. W. Cooper (1877)
• Rev. C. Woodyard (1878)
• Rev. L. H. Morgan (1878)
• Rev. William B. Derrick (1880; later Bishop, 1896)
• Rev. W. H. Griffity (1883)
• Rev. Horace Tolbert (1883)
• Rev. L. W. Stevens (1884)
• Rev. Israel Derrick (1886)
• Rev. William H. Thomas (1886)
• Rev. Francis F. Giles (1889; 1901)
• Rev. R. R. Shirley (1892)
• Rev. Richard Miles (1895)
• Rev. D. P. Brown (1896)
• Rev. C. N. Gibbons (1898)
• Rev. Walter S. Kane (1900)
• Rev. John Este (1902)
• Rev. John M. Proctor (1904)
• Rev. A. C. Saunders (1908)
• Rev. Charles C. Wilson (1909)
• Rev. J. B. Morton (1911)
• Rev. L. H. Holden (1915)
• Rev. E. E. Paul (1916)
• Rev. Samuel H. V. Gumbs (1918)
• Rev. Robert J. Robinson (1921)
• Rev. A. L. Wilson (1925)
• Rev. Charles H. Whaley (1928)
• Rev. D. B. Barton (1931)
• Rev. Herman F. Tyree (1933)
• Rev. William F. Coffey (1934)
• Rev. Cain P. Cole (1935)
• Rev. Isaiah A. McCoy (1936)
• Rev. Norman Brown (1940)
• Rev. J. U. Gumbs (1942)
• Rev. P. A. Pitts (1943)
• Rev. Samuel B. Reed (1944)
• Rev. J. P. Washington (1949)
• Rev. John Edward Foster (1951)
• Rev. Charles E. Stewart (1952)
• Rev. Byrum C. Burton (1956)
• Rev. C. B. Barrow (1961)
• Rev. Clarence B. Crawford (1965)
• Rev. Herman A. Rhodes (1966)
• Rev. John W. Lee (1972)
• Rev. Richard R. Stokes (1976)
• Rev. Ernest L. Boston (1978)
• Rev. James E. F. Lawrence (1983; later Presiding Elder, 2004)
• Rev. Harold B. Rutherford (1988)
• Rev. John C. Justice (2001)
• Rev. Dr. Edward B. Smart (2004– )