When the first session of the Philadelphia Annual Conference met in 1817 there were only four Itinerant Preachers present, Bishop Richard Allen, who presided, and the Reverends William Paul Quinn (later o become a Bishop), Jacob Tapisco, and Clayton Durham. From that small but distinguished cadre of churchmen, The Philadelphia Conference has grown to number more than two hundred Itinerant Preachers, male and female.
The geographical boundaries of the Conference extend westward from the Delaware River, which forms the eastern boundary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to include about half of the State, with the exception of three or four Churches along the state’s southern border, the Mason-Dixon Line. These Churches are included in the Delaware Conference. A similar exemption must be made for a few Churches in northern half of the state which are included in the Pittsburgh Annual Conference. It is interesting to note that at one time the Philadelphia Conference included what was known as ‘the Island of New Jersey”, the State of Delaware, and at least one new point and a new Church in the State of Maryland, according to the 1948 edition of the Encyclopedia of African Methodism.
As the heart pumps blood to every section of the body so the Philadelphia Conference has sent its influence to every section of our Zion. And as the blood sent out returns to the heart for renewal and further service, so the General Church looks to the Mother Conference for inspiration and renewal.
WEST-MAINLINE DISTRICT
Saint Matthew A.M.E. Church – Philadelphia
Mount Pisgah A.M.E. Church – Philadelphia
Jones Tabernacle A.M.E. Church – Philadelphia
Ward Emmanuel A.M.E. Church – Philadelphia
Bethel A.M.E. Church – Ardmore
Bethel A.M.E. Church – Bryn Mawr
Grimes A.M.E. Church – Phoenixville
First A.M.E Church – Sharon Hill
New Bethel A.M.E. Church – Willow Grove
Bethel A.M.E. Church – Donwington
Saint Paul A.M.E. Church – Malvern
Mount Zion A.ME. Church – Devon
Allen A.M.E. Church – Oxford
Saint John A.M.E. Church – Wayne
Saint John A.M.E. Church – Conshohocken
Bethel A.M.E. Church – Kennett Square
Ebenezer A.M.E. Church – Glenolden
Josie D. Heard A.M.E. Church – Philadelphia
SOUTH DISTRICT
Morris Brown A.M.E. Church-Philadelphia
Zion A.M.E. Church-Philadelphia
Hickman Temple A.M.E. Church-Philadelphia
New Bethel A.M.E. Church-Germantown
Mount Zion A.M.E. Church-Norristown
Bethel A.M.E. Church-Landsdowne
Mount Zion A.M.E. Church-Darby
Bethel A.M.E. Church-Reading
Saint Paul A.M.E. Church-Philadelphia
Metropolitan A.M.E. Church-Lansdowne
Greater Mount Olive A.M.E. Church-Philadelphia
Shorter A.M.E. Church-Morton
Thornbury A.M.E. Church-Glen Mills
Bethel A.M.E. Church-West Chester
Campbell A.M.E. Church-Media
Saint John A.M.E. Church-Philadelphia
Wesley A.M.E. Church-Swarthmore
PHILADELPHIA DISTRICT
Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church – Philadelphia
Mount Tabor A.M.E. Church – Philadelphia
AME Union Church – Philadelphia
Campbell A.M.E. Church – Frankford
LaMott A.M.E. Church – Elkins Park
Allen A.M.E. Church – Philadelphia
Trinity A.M.E. Church – Philadelphia
Disney-Nichols A.M.E. Church – Philadelphia
Bethel A.M.E. Church – Pottstown
Waters Memorial A.M.E. Church – Philadelphia
Tyree A.M.E. Church – Philadelphia
Bethel A.M.E. Church – Bristol
Calvary A.M.E. Church – Philadelphia
Bethlehem A.M.E. Church – Langhorne
Bethany A.M.E. Church – Philadelphia
Bensalem A.M.E. Church – Bensalem
HARRISBURG DISTRICT
Bethel A.M.E. Church – Harrisburg
Bethel A.M.E. Church – Lancaster
Monumental A.M.E. Church – Steelton
Bethel A.M.E. Church – York
Mount Zion A.M.E. Church – Atglen
Ebenezer A.M.E. Church – Middletown
Mount Zion A.M.E. Church – Columbia
Bethany A.M.E. Church – Harrisburg
Mount Sinai A.M.E. Church – Harrisburg
Bethel A.M.E. Church – Carlisle
Saint John A.M.E. Church – Lebanon
Saint Paul A.M.E. Church – Oberlin
Bethany A.M.E. Church – Parkesburg
Saint James A.M.E. Church – Chambersburg
Bethel A.M.E. Church – Coatesville
Union A.M.E. Church – Easton
Saint Paul A.M.E. Church – Waynesboro
Bethel A.M.E. Church – Pottsville
Bethel A.M.E. Church – McConnellsburg
Saint Peters A.M.E. Church – Shippensburg
Bethel A.M.E. Church – Mercersburg
Bethel A.M.E. Church – Greencastle
Saint Paul A.M.E. Church – Coatesville
Bethel A.M.E. Church – Marietta
New Covenant A.M.E. Church – Tobyhanna