Singleton T. Jones

Bishop Singleton T. Jones of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Bishop Singleton T. Jones (March 8, 1825 – April 18, 1891) was a religious leader in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AME Zion). Although he had little education, Jones taught himself to be an articulate orator and was awarded the position of bishop within the church . Besides being a pastor to churches, he also edited AME Zion publications, the Zion's Standard and Weekly Review and the Discipline.

Jones helped establish churches before and after the Civil War and was known for his skills for helping blacks adjust to the post-war Reconstruction era. He wrote several hymns and his sermons and addresses were published a year after his death.

He was the first of the African American clergy to be awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity and was listed with Harriet Tubman as one of the most effective church members to understand and meet the needs of African Americans.

Early life Singleton Thomas Webster Jones was born in Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, on March 8, 1825.

Career

Overview Jones was licensed to preach in 1846. He last served the Mother African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (Old Zion church) in New York.

Churches

Jones served churches throughout Pennsylvania, Baltimore, Washington, and New Jersey.

After the Civil War, church leaders traveled into the southern states to spread the word to African Americans about the black-led African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Jones went into the southwest. Jones was noted for his ability to help his Harrisburg congregants manage the post-war challenges:

He, with Harriet Tubman were identified as two people from the Church who best understood the needs of African Americans and offered wholesome and worthwhile contributions.

Editor Jones was a founder and the editor of the Zion's Standard and Weekly Review, the second newspaper published by the Zion Church, which was a "pioneer in the movement for abolition of human slavery." At the time, he was the pastor of the Bleecker Street church and before he became a bishop. In the late 1850s, William H. Day contributed poems and was an editor for the newspaper. Jones was tasked to begin editing the Discipline in 1856.

Works

Personal life

On November 29, 1846, Jones married Mary J. Talbot, or Talbert, of Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Her parents were Edward and Jane Talbert. Their children were George Galbreth, Chester Stevens, Ann Catherine, David Eddie, Elizabeth Jane, Mary Ann, Singleton Thomas, William Haywodd Bishop, Alice Williamson, Joll Robinson, Jennie Catherine, and Edward Derussa William Jones. Both Jennie and Edward graduated from Livingstone College.

John Wesley AME Zion Church (est. 1847), located in the Logan Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Jones was an accomplished organist. He died at 1019 19th Street N.W. in Washington, D.C., on April 18, 1891. He was still in active service at the time of his death.