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Colored Methodist Episcopal Church

Born in the aftermath of the Civil War, this historically Black Methodist denomination grew out of a desire for self-governance, worship, and leadership rooted in African American communities. It later took the name Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and became an important religious and educational presence across the South and beyond.

1 Audiobook

The Doctrines and Discipline of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church

The Doctrines and Discipline of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church

by Colored Methodist Episcopal Church

About the author

The Colored Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1870 in Jackson, Tennessee, by formerly enslaved and other African American Methodists who wanted an independent church under Black leadership. Over time, it developed its own bishops, conferences, schools, and missionary work, becoming a major part of Black religious life in the United States.

In 1954, the denomination officially changed its name to the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. The newer name reflected a wish to move away from a racial label while keeping its Methodist and Episcopal identity.

The church has long been known not only for worship, but also for education and community leadership. Its history is closely tied to Reconstruction, segregation, and the continuing role of Black churches in shaping civic and spiritual life.