Historic and Cultural Significance

The African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church in Yardley is a testament to the area's rich history, tracing back to its origins in 1682 when Quaker William Yeardley founded the village. Continuing this legacy, William's nephew, Thomas Yardley, further developed the village into what became known as Yardleyville in the early 1700s. The A.M.E. Church of Yardley property predecessors’ ownership ties directly back to Thomas Yardley, George Yardley, and Charles Yardley when this property was called the Boatyard lot. The Eastburn family (also Quakers) owned a hay press barn here, that also served as a gathering place for African American worshippers, named the "Free Peoples Church”, then The Colored Church, established in 1817. Thus, this dwelling played a vital role in Yardley’s Underground Railroad legacy, offering solace and support during tumultuous times. In July 2022, Shirley Lee Corsey, a third-generation Yardley Borough resident, became the legal conservator of this historic landmark. In 1877 this church was established and built by African American A.M.E. church congregants who traveled from the nearby Delaware River, from Trenton, New Jersey. It now serves as the headquarters for Gather Place, a non-profit organization. Its inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places further underscores its significance in preserving Yardley's legacy and its ties to the Underground Railroad  .  Photo (c.1982) courtesy of Helene Derry Giles and the Heritage Conservancy of Bucks County.