Black Presence in the Episcopal Diocese of New York
A Shared Public Spiritual Space for Truth and Truth-Telling
St. Philip's Episcopal Church
St. Philip's New York Landmarks Preservation Foundation Plaque
Justice Thurgood Marshall at St. Philip's blessed by Reverend Dr. M. Moran Weston 6th Recto
Parishioners leaving St. Philip's Church, probably a wedding, 1936
Reverend Peter Williams Jr, St. Philip's First Rector 1826-1840
African Free School attended by the Rev. Peter Williams Jr.
Plaque honoring the first Rector of St. Philip's Church
St. Philip's congregation view from back of church
St. Philip's -undated photo
St. Philip's Church prior to move to Harlem
Welcome to the Black Presence in the Episcopal Diocese of New York (BPP) website, a repository of stories and narratives of the rich and complex experiences of people of African descent in the Episcopal Diocese of New York from the colonial era through to the present.
As we have proceeded with another year of discussions, conversation and work, we continue to be grateful to The Right Reverend Andrew ML Dietsche, XVI Bishop of New York, The Absalom Jones Planning Committee and the Communications and Archives Department for their unwavering and inspiring support.
The BPP website launched in February 2019 with previously published material. It continues to grow and now includes sermons from the Absalom Jones Celebration services at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine as well as reference to the association of the Harlem African Burial Ground with churches from EDNY and historical information on the first orphanage for children of African descent in the U.S. BPP’s goal is to expand the website with additional previously published material as well as newly created submissions and original research.
Information is organized and cross-referenced by church, individual, era or record type. This growing repository contains written records, original research, oral histories, visual, sound and video records.
BPP establishes a diocesan-wide invitation for sharing four centuries of stories of black presence experiences, narratives and stories. This dynamic repository is a public witness to truth and truth-telling.
Images associated with St. Philip’s Church, Harlem the first independent black church in the New York Diocese.
(February, 2020)