African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church holds its first service.

Organized by members of the Revere Street Methodist Episcopal Church, the congregation meets initially on Joy Street (then Belknap Street). The first independent African-American congregation in the U.S., its first minister is Jethiel Beman is the first minister. The congregation moves to Phillips Street (then Southac Street), to Parkman Hall on Cambridge Street, then to a small chapel on Anderson Street (then West Center Street) in 1841, then to the former North Russell Street Methodist Episcopal Church in 1866. It purchases the former Temple Adath Israel on Columbus Avenue in 1903.*