This week in Christian history: Protestant reformer born, Japanese evangelist baptized

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, February 12, 2023

Absalom Jones dies – Feb. 13, 1818

Absalom Jones (1746-1818), the first African American to be ordained a priest in The Episcopal Church. | Public Domain

This week marks the anniversary of when Absalom Jones, a noted social reformer who was the first African American to be ordained a priest in The Episcopal Church, died.

Born a slave in Delaware colony, Jones used the New Testament to teach himself to read, and eventually was freed in 1784 after he and his master moved to Philadelphia.

Ordained at the age of 56, Jones worked alongside African Methodist Episcopal Church founder Richard Allen to help emancipated slaves and launched local philanthropic efforts.

Last September, a portion of Lancaster Avenue in Philadelphia was renamed in honor of Jones, with the section that includes the Historic African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, which Jones had led back in the 18th century.