New Gather Place Museum in Yardley weaves African-American history into borough lore

For 146 years, the Bethel AME Church in Yardley served as a house of worship, community gathering place and later, a food pantry for the needy before being left abandoned.

Longtime Yardley resident and self-professed history geek Shirley Lee Corsey watched as the meek, one-story church that was built in 1877 on South Canal Street fell into disrepair, and knew she had to act.

"I could see the AME church from my house. I remember it as always being in our neighborhood," Corsey said. "We always knew the history of the church, but sadly it has been left abandoned now for more than 10 years."

Corsey said the generational dwindling of the African-American population in Yardley, along with previous church officials either passing away or moving from the area, led to the church falling into a state of disrepair.

Corsey then embarked on a what turned into a years-long quest to become conservator and save the church while preserving a piece of Yardley history

Yardley native helps AME Church preserve the past

Corsey's family has long ties to Yardley Borough and the AME Church. Corsey's mother and father, Jean Hazel Lee and Horace Lee, purchased the family home on South Canal Street in 1958 in an area locals refer to as the "Boatyard" and just a few dozen feet away from the church.

"I trace my family’s (connection) to Yardley through my late maternal Grandmother Sarah Johns Coney," Corsey said. "Her and her first husband owned their home at 192 South Canal Street from the early 1900s."

Corsey watched Bethel AME serve the community through various means, and was saddened to see its membership dwindle, and along with it, the care and upkeep of the church building.

Macabre at Mercer: At the Mercer Museum, the gallows of Bucks County on display as remnant of 'tool of social control'

With that, in 2019 Corsey began the process of procuring the church, and in 2022, met with Yardley Borough code enforcement officials. In that time, Corsey also took advantage of a Pennsylvania law that allows residents that live near abandoned properties to become caretakers.

Gather Place museum uses storytelling, reenactments

While Bethel AME is no longer operating as a church, Corsey has transformed it into Gather Place Museum, which highlights African-American involvement in the whole of American history, specifically in Yardley.

Corsey founded Gather Place, a nonprofit that will run the museum.

Corsey held a grand opening in September, and plans on reopening the museum on April 8, once renovations are complete.

Then on April 22, Gather Place Museum will co-sponsor an event with Yardley bookstore Commonplace Reader and the Langhorne Council for the Arts.

"We are currently closed due the extensive renovations now being completed, thanks to several donations Gather Place has received, as well as a $50,000 state building repairs grant spearheaded by State Sen. Steve Santarsiero," Corsey said. "With these funds, we have installed a new slate roof and we are in the process of having our 1877 historical cathedral windows repaired and painted.

"Next will be the repair and painting of our original exterior Victorian board and batten wood siding."

Gather Place's permanent exhibits tells the story about Yardley Borough’s Quaker founders, its diverse neighborhoods and families and its rich history, inclusive of African Americans, going back to Bucks County's origins.

The museum will also feature periodic exhibits and activities including the history of the Women's Suffrage movement and the beginnings of the abolitionist movement.

Exhibit will be supported by documents, photos, filmed documentaries and  first-person history lessons.

Santarsiero presented the funds to Gather Place in February.

“The restoration of the old AME Church is an important investment into the historical and community identity of Yardley Borough,” Santarsiero said. "For too long, accounts of women and people of color in the history of our community and commonwealth have been missing. The Gather Place Museum brings these important stories to life in an inclusive and educational way."

African American museum in Middletown:African American Museum of Bucks County gets $250k state boost as officials break ground in Middletown

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Gather Place Museum in Yardley weaves Black history into borough lore