Spring Valley AME Church

The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Concord Township, built in 1880, was historically significant as the only Black church in the area. Founded in response to racial discrimination, the AME Church continues the Methodist doctrine and is part of a broader national denomination. The building, now a historic site, was closed in the 1980s and is undergoing restoration.

The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, located at 270 Spring Valley Road in Concord Township, was built in 1880 on land purchased from local farmer John Myers. It served as a central gathering place for the Black community in the area for many years. The church was closed in the 1980s as the congregation moved away for better opportunities. In 1997, it was sold to a developer who intended to restore it for a non-denominational use, but the social hall was later damaged by arson. The building remained vacant until 2014, when the township purchased it as part of its open space program. As of 2020, work is underway to renovate and restore the church’s exterior.

The AME Church is listed on the Concord Township Historic Resources Inventory as Resource #132 and is classified as a Class 2 historic site, indicating its significance to local history. It is the only Black church in the township and a notable example of early 19th-century country church architecture. The AME denomination was founded in 1816 by Rev. Richard Allen in Philadelphia in response to racial discrimination, and it continues to follow the Methodist doctrine. The AME Church is the first major religious denomination in the Western world to develop due to sociological rather than theological differences and is the first African-American denomination to be organized and incorporated in the United States.

The World of Churches estimates the AME Church’s global membership at around 2.5 million. Learn more about the AME Church’s history.

Spring Valley AME Church stands as a vital piece of Glen Mills’ history, representing both the resilience of the African Methodist Episcopal denomination and the architectural character of 19th-century rural worship spaces. Though the congregation moved away in the 1980s and the building remains under restoration, its role as the township’s only historically Black church endures as a symbol of community and faith. Visitors today may appreciate its preservation as a Class 2 historic site and its connection to the broader AME tradition founded by Rev. Richard Allen.

Pros

• Serves as a preserved example of early 19th-century church architecture and local Black history.
• Linked to the nationally significant African Methodist Episcopal denomination, founded in response to racial discrimination.
• Maintained as a historic site with educational resources about its role in the community.
• Listed on the township’s Historic Resources Inventory, emphasizing its cultural value.

Cons

• Current website offers limited details about visiting the site or ongoing restoration progress.
• No clear information on whether services or public gatherings are held at the location presently.
• Historic building has faced challenges including arson damage and prolonged vacancy.