Carolyn C. Cavaness
53rd Mother Bethel Pastor
Mother Bethel’s story begins with Bishop Richard Allen, born enslaved in 1760 and later founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Allen purchased his freedom, became a Methodist preacher, and led a growing community of Black worshipers in Philadelphia. Racial discrimination at St. George’s MEC—including a forced-seating incident—led Allen, Absalom Jones, and others to form a new worship community.
4.9 / 5 Ratings
A converted blacksmith shop
A larger building, site of early activism, the founding of the AME Church in 1816, and the authorization of Jarena Lee’s preaching.
noted for its impressive pulpit and community service during the Civil War.
The current building, blessed and dedicated with great ceremony and civic involvement.
53rd Mother Bethel Pastor
52nd Mother Bethel Pastor 2008-2024
51st Mother Bethel Pastor 1993-2008
50th Mother Bethel Pastor 1986-1993
49th Mother Bethel Pastor 1984-1986
48th Mother Bethel Pastor 1972-1984
47th Mother Bethel Pastor 1965-1972
46th Mother Bethel Pastor 1960-1965
45th Mother Bethel Pastor 1950-1960
44th Mother Bethel Pastor 1942-1950
43rd Mother Bethel Pastor 1930-1942
42nd Mother Bethel Pastor 1925-1930
41st Mother Bethel Pastor 1920-1925
40th Mother Bethel Pastor 1916-1920
39th Mother Bethel Pastor 1912-1916
38th Mother Bethel Pastor 1907-1912
37th Mother Bethel Pastor 1904-1907
36th Mother Bethel Pastor 1903-1904
35th Mother Bethel Pastor 1900-1903
32nd Mother Bethel Pastor 1892-1895
35th Bishop 31st Mother Bethel Pastor 1890-1892
29th Mother Bethel Pastor 1886-1888
27th Mother Bethel Pastor 1883-1884
26th and 28th Mother Bethel Pastor 1881-1883; 1884-1886
30th Bishop 25th and 34th Mother Bethel Pastor 1879-1881 1896-1900
29th Bishop 30th Mother Bethel Pastor
24th Mother Bethel Pastor 1877-1879
23rd Mother Bethel Pastor 1875-1877
22nd and 33rd Mother Bethel Pastor 1873-1875 1895-1896
20th Mother Bethel Pastor 1870-1871
19th Mother Bethel Pastor 1867-1870
18th Mother Bethel Pastor 1865-1867
17th Mother Bethel Pastor 1864-1865
8th Bishop 16th Mother Bethel Pastor 1862-1864
15th Mother Bethel Pastor 1860-1862
14th Mother Bethel Pastor 1858-1860
12th Mother Bethel Pastor 1855-1857
11th Mother Bethel Pastor 1853-1855
10th Mother Bethel Pastor 1852-1853
9th Mother Bethel Pastor 1848-1852
5th Bishop 8th Mother Bethel Pastor 1846-1848
7th Mother Bethel Pastor 1844-1846
6th Mother Bethel Pastor 1840-1844
5th Mother Bethel Pastor 1834-1840
2nd Bishop 4th Mother Bethel Pastor 1825-1834
3rd Mother Bethel Pastor 1824-1825
2nd Mother Bethel Pastor 1818-1824
1st Bishop 1st Mother Bethel Pastor 1787-1818
A complete list of the 53 pastors who have served the Mother Church:
Carolyn C. Cavaness 2024-present
Mark K. Tyler 2008-2024
Jeffrey N. Leath * 1993-2008
Richard F. Norris * 1986-1993
Simon P. Bouie 1984-1986
Joseph L. Joiner
Henry J. White, Sr. 1965-1972
Charles E. Stewart 1960-1965
John D. Bright, Sr. * 1950-1960
Eustace Blake 1942-1950
Henry P. Jones 1930-1942
J. Campbell Beckett 1925-1930
Harry P. Anderson 1920-1925
Robert J. Williams 1916-1920
Coleman C. Dunlap 1912-1916
Montrose W. Thornton 1907-1912
R. William Fickland 1904-1907
William H. Thomas 1903-1904
Thomas W. Henderson 1900-1903
Levi Coppin 1896-1900
Theodore Gould 1895-1896
William D. Cook 1892-1895
William H. Heard * 1890-1892
Cornelius T. Shaffer * 1888-1889
John W. Beckett 1886-1888
Joseph S. Thompson 1884-1886
Cethe C. Felts 1883-1884
Joseph S. Thompson 1881-1883
Levi J. Coppin * 1879-1881
George C. Whitfield 1877-1879
Robert F. Wayman 1875-1877
Theodore Gould 1873-1875
Henry J. Young 1871-1873
James M. Williams 1870-1871
Deaton Dorrell 1867-1870
James Hollon 1865-1867
William Moore 1864-1865
Jabez P. Campbell * 1862-1864
Joshua Woodlin 1860-1862
William D.W. Schureman 1858-1860
John Cornish 1857-1858
Richard Robinson 1855-1857
Henry Davis 1853-1855
Henry J. Young 1852-1853
John Cornish 1848-1852
Willis Nazrey * 1846-1848
William Moore 1844-1846
Richard Williams 1840-1844
Joseph Cox 1834-1840
Morris Brown * 1825-1834
William Cornish 1824-1825
Jacob Tapisco 1818-1824
Richard Allen * 1787-1818
(*) Denotes former pastors who were elected and consecrated to the office of Bishop.
For more information on Bishop Richard Allen, Mother Bethel, or the AMEC, refer to Bishop Allen’s autobiography at http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/allen/allen.html, Bishop Payne’s History of the AMEC, Vol. I at http://docsouth.unc.edu/church/payne/payne.html, or Bishop Smith’s History of the AMEC, Vol. II. at http://docsouth.unc.edu/church/cssmith/smith.html
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