Its congregation developed from the Free African Society, a non-denominational group formed by blacks who had left St. George's Methodist Church because of discrimination and segregation by class.

As his congregation became established, he was ordained in 1802 by Presiding Bishop William White as the first black priest in the Episcopal Church.

The church moved several times over the years in response to the needs of the congregation, including where the majority of the worshiping community resided.

[citation needed] Its second rector was William Douglass, an African American, former student of Rev.

The site of the original building, dedicated on July 17, 1794, at Fifth and Adelphi streets, is now covered by the passageway/plaza known as St. James Place.