First Cambria AME Zion Church

The First Cambria AME Zion Church is an African American church that fights for civil rights. This church is located in Johnstown, PA, near the heart of the city. This historical site gained significance from 1910-1970, which is when the Great Migration occurred. Some important groups that were involved with the church were African Americans and members of the NAACP. It was a gathering spot for people to worship and organize marches for civil rights. This place allowed its people to have a political and prophetic voice against civil rights issues. This site is on public ground and still accessible to the public for services. It was erected in 1997 by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. 

Around 1954, the Civil Rights movement began. Interestingly, eighty-one years prior to this in 1873, the First Cambria AME Zion Church was created. It was formed in the loft of the Woodvale Tannery by workers, and in 1877, it was moved to its current location. It was useful before the Civil Rights movement, serving as a place to worship. However, once the Civil Rights movement started, the church became more popular. This church was a significant place because it was somewhere where people could join together to fight for civil rights. In this church, people gathered to formulate strategies, which were then transformed into plans for official marches. These marches took place and resembled the characteristics of religious services. In these marches, there were prayers, short sermons, and songs. This was also a place for members of the NAACP to gather. In one instance, the NAACP met here because a 15-year-old African American boy was killed by a police officer. The church helped calm down the Johnstown community by Reverend Cunningham, pastor at Cambria AME Zion Church, issuing a statement soon after the shooting. The issue stated "It is perhaps natural that human feelings are running at a near fever pitch as the result of this unfortunate death. But, we can only appeal and pray that there will be no needless violence because that would only compound an already tragic situation.”⁵ This was a pivotal time for the First Cambria AME Zion Church to provide assistance to the community. 

As previously stated, the First Cambria AME Zion Church was formed by workers in the loft of the Woodvale Tannery. After being relocated to its current location, the flood of 1889 washed the church from its foundation. However, it was later restored and still stands today. The purpose for recreating the First Cambria AME Zion Church was for African Americans to have a safe place to worship. Although worshiping still occurs there, the purpose of the church changed slightly during the Great Migration from 1910-1970. During this time, the church was a place to gather for protests and marches. 

Today, this church is still a place of worship and gathering. I think this relates to issues that are occurring in society as well. Civil Rights are still a problem we have not solved, but the youth are striving to make a change. Recently, the NAACP gathered here to present a reading. On July 4, 2020, Fredrick Douglass’ speech “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” echoed throughout the First Cambria AME Zion Church, just as speeches similarly did eighty years ago. Although time has passed, the same kind of problems are presented. The First AME Zion Church remains a place of safety and comfort to discuss civil rights. 

The First Cambria AME Zion Church is a place for community to meet. It is a place for a new generation of young people to start participating in projects the church holds. This place will always be significant, as we strive to overcome the challenges associated with civil rights. The First Cambria AME Zion Church will forever be a place for people to gather and worship at. This church not only helps African Americans, but also the whole community. This church is a place that connects with the community and provides reassurance that everything will work out in the end. Therefore, once the community has this reassurance, the city becomes a safer and happier place.  

Butler , Anthea, and Johnathon Walton , eds. “The Black Church.” PBS. Public Broadcasting Service. Accessed December 14, 2021. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/godinamerica-Black-church/. 

Fischer, William. “First Cambria A.M.E. Zion Church Historical Marker.” Edited by Kevin W. . Historical Marker, June 16, 2016. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=21871. 

McDevitt, Cody, and Tony Norman. Banished from Johnstown: Racist Backlash in Pennsylvania. Charleston , SC: The History Press, 2020. 

Sherman, Richard B. “JOHNSTOWN v. THE NEGRO: SOUTHERN MIGRANTS AND THE EXODUS OF 1923.” Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies 30, no. 4 (1963): 454–64. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27770214.

⁵Sutor , Dave. “National Events Echo 1969 Shooting of Black Youth by Police Officer in Johnstown.” The Tribune Democrat , June 29, 2020. https://www.tribdem.com/news/national-events-echo-1969-shooting-of-Black-youth-by-police-officer-in-johnstown/article_47c28d20-b9bb-11ea-a0a1-0bd96c3596af.html.