African Union Church of London Grove Cemetery

First of all, what is “quiet title”? A quiet title action in Pennsylvania is a civil lawsuit that resolves disputes over property ownership. It’s a legal process that can clear up uncertainties or competing claims about a property’s title.

So in other words, London Grove Township wants to take over this parcel? Yet I have found 3 references to them having the parcel since 1965?

I found an action in progress in the courts:

Is it related to this from the London Grove Historic Commission last May?

At the request of the Girl Scout (Cadets) Troup # 4136, the Cadets visited the Historical Commission to introduce their project proposal to make improvements to the African Union Church and Cemetery located at 816 North Guernsey Road in London Grove Township. Their excellent presentation included initiatives to improve signage, headstone and landscaping at the cemetery, the proposed schedule, budget needs, fund raising, volunteer efforts and next steps. The Historical Commission was very impressed with the scope of the Girl Scout efforts, and their enthusiasm in performing this initiative. Subsequent to this discussion, the Historical Commission queried vis-a-vis the Chester County Historical Commission, that the cemetery ownership was transferred to London Grove Township in the year 1965 via an order approved by a county judge. We discussed the next steps, and a milestone to continue this initiative; that being formal application to the Girl Scout organization for their approval, as well as an on-site presentation to the London Grove Township Board of Supervisors (8 May, 2024) to seek funding and approval. After a few questions which were thoughtfully responded to, the Historical Commission encouraged the team to press on. Several from the Historical Commission volunteered to assist in the improvements if/when the project was officially initiated.

1-May-2024-Historic-Commission-Minutes London grove Download

Here are the list of graves on Find a Grave:

Memorials in Solomon_s Temple Union Ame..Download

So it appears that a troop of Girl Scouts want this place saved in perpetuity. I applaud them.

I do not quite understand why London Grove is posting a legal notice if the research on the part of Girl Scout Troop 4136 found that they were deeded the land parcel in 1965 unless it’s just another screwy thing with Chester County deed and land records? I mean that is entirely possible, right?

I was alarmed when I saw this notice, but am hoping because the Girl Scout Troop 4136 id invested in this site, it is a good thing this township is doing? Lots of questions given who the solicitor is on the legal notice and that Warren Kampf the former state rep who now shills for Chester County is on the court docket, but there is a lack of information out there. It appears London Grove Township actually does have some land development plans going on like every township but they have one of the worst websites so finding information without a blood hound is difficult. People it’s 2025, so why do so many municipal websites just plain suck and why isn’t everyone recording public meetings yet? (But I digress.)

So back to African Union Church AKA Solomon’s Temple AKA Solomon’s Temple Union American Methodist Episcopal Cemetery at 816 North Guernsey Road in West Grove. It’s yet ANOTHER abandoned AME (African Methodist Episcopal) site is what it appears to me. Somewhere Bishop Richard Allen is once again turning in his grave. I still want to know how the AME Church cannot keep track of their former church sites, graveyards, and history better?

So from the blog page Documenting Chester County’s Black Churches and Cemeteries, I have learned the following and I quote the author directly:

Solomon’s Temple Union American Methodist Episcopal Church, London Grove Township

Solomon’s Temple U.A.M.E. Cemetery on Find A Grave.

John Bell, it is said, escaped from slavery in Maryland some time in the 1830s and became a huckster in the vicinity of Chatham. Fighting off a slave-catching party, he eventually accrued property and money, and on December 17th, 1849, for the consideration of $50, he gave an acre of land outside the village to James Wilmer, John Durnall, Perry Reed, William Lindsey, and John Mason, Trustees of the African Union Church, to erect what became known as Solomon’s Temple. A small cemetery was established on the ground surrounding the church.

John Bell died in 1873 and bequeathed a considerable sum to the church. Shortly thereafter, led to a small congregation meeting at the former Williamson Methodist Episcopal Church in nearby Penn Township. However, services continued on at Solomon’s Temple (which had become a U.A.M.E. Congregation in the 1860s) until the early 1900s.

By the 1960s, the church had fallen to ruin and the cemetery had become “covered with weeds, briars and saplings and many of the tombstones [were] leaning or [had] fallen over.” A group of township residents petitioned London Grove Township to take charge and maintain the grounds, and in 1965 a county Judge ordered just that. Today the cemetery is kept up by the township and is nominally open to the public.

From the Find A Grave Page:

John Bell, it is said, escaped from slavery in Maryland some time in the 1830s and became a huckster in the vicinity of Chatham, Chester County. After fighting off a slave-catching party, he eventually accrued property and money, and on December 17th, 1849, for the consideration of $50, he gave an acre of land outside the village to James Wilmer, John Durnall, Perry Reed, William Lindsey, and John Mason, Trustees of the African Union Church, to erect what became known as Solomon’s Temple. A small cemetery was established on the ground surrounding the church.

John Bell died in 1873 and bequeathed a considerable sum to the church. Shortly thereafter, led to a small congregation meeting at the former Williamson Methodist Episcopal Church in nearby Penn Township. However, services continued on at Solomon’s Temple (which had become a U.A.M.E. Congregation in the 1860s) until the early 1900s.

By the 1960s, the church had fallen to ruin and the cemetery had become “covered with weeds, briars and saplings and many of the tombstones [were] leaning or [had] fallen over.” A group of township residents petitioned London Grove Township to take charge and maintain the grounds, and in 1965 a county Judge ordered just that.

The stone foundation of the church remains, but the majority of the burials lack their original headstones that have been destroyed, buried or removed over time. Today the cemetery is kept up by the township and is nominally open to the public.

Sigh. Another place with a burial ground containing Black Civil War soldiers just sort of there. I am glad the Girl Scouts and London Grove Township Historic Commission have an interest. I am curious again as to the remark that London Grove Township has supposedly had this spot since 1965 when a Chester County Judge gave custody to London Grove Township. If London Grove has had control since 1965, why the new public notice court thingy?