In 1793 the number of serious people of color had increased and there were different opinions with respect to the mode of religious worship. Inasmuch as many felt a strong partiality for the order adopted by the Methodists, Richard Allen , with the advice of some of his brethren, proposed erecting a place of worship on his own ground and at his own expense as an African Methodist meeting-house. As soon as the preachers of the Methodist Church in Philadelphia learned this, they opposed it with all their might, insisting that the house should be made over to the conference or they would publish them in the newspaper as imposing on the public, as they were not Methodists.

However, the building went on and when it was finished, Francis Asbury, then Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was invited to open the house for divine service. The invitation was accepted and the house was named Bethel. (See Gen. 28:19).

It was now proposed by the resident elder, (J.M.C.) that they should have the Church incorporated, that they might receive any donation or legacy, as well as enjoy any other advantages arising there from. This was agreed to and in order to save expense, the elder proposed drawing it up for them. But, they soon found that he had done it in such a manner as entirely deprived them of that liberty they expected to enjoy, so that by this stratagem they were again brought into bondage, by the Methodist preachers.

In this situation they experienced grievances too numerous to mention. At one time the elder, (J. S.) demanded the keys of the house with the books and papers belonging thereto. At other times they were told that they should have no more meetings without his leave, and that the house was not theirs but belonged to the Methodist Conference. Finding themselves thus embarrassed, they consulted a lawyer who informed them that by means of a supplement they could be delivered from the grievances under which they labored. The congregation unanimously agreed to sign a petition for a supplement, which the Legislature of Pennsylvania readily granted, and they were liberated from the difficulties which they had experienced for many years.