Main Line's First Black Church Receives National Register of Historic Places Designation

Historic Mt. Zion of Devon

National Register of Historic Places

380 North Fairfield Road, Devon, PA 19333

PRESS RELEASE

Contact Bertha Jackmon

Church Historian

Tel: 610-647-5835

historicmtziondevon@gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Main Line’s First Black Church Receives National Register of Historic Places Designation

DEVON, PA, May 21, 2015. Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Devon is thrilled to announce that as of January 27, 2015, Mt. Zion AME Church is now officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic church and cemetery is now included in the National Register of Historic Places maintained by the National Park Service, a selective list of the most significant places or events in local, state and national history.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.

Mt. Zion AME Church is the first African-American congregation of any denomination, and the oldest and continuous African Methodist Episcopal Church on the entire Main Line.

The Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Office (PHPO, formerly the Bureau for Historic Preservation) stated that Mt. Zion Church is “Locally significant for its association with the African-American community’s battle against school segregation in Tredyffrin and Easttown Townships, Chester County.” Mt. Zion’s association with school segregation during 1932-34, and its impact on local and state history, formed the basis for the National Register of Historic Places application.

The community is invited to celebrate Flag Day on Sunday, June 14 at 3 PM at historic Mt. Zion AME Church located at 380 North Fairfield Road, Devon, PA 19333. The event will feature tours of the church and cemetery, spiritual music and Civil War reenactors all highlighting Mt. Zion’s rich history. The event is free to the public. Café Friday will be open for dinner, $10 per person, immediately following the event.

For more information, visit www.historicmtziondevon.org

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