History
Early 19th century, efforts were made to convert slaves in the South and free blacks in the North to Presbyterianism. In 1807, John Gloucester, an ex-slave, organized the first African-American Presbyterian church in Philadelphia, Pa. The first church in New York City was organized by Samuel Cornish. Also during this time, such churches were founded in MD, NY, NJ, and Wash, DC.
Missionary efforts in the South were less successful than Methodists and Baptists, since many Presbyterian churches supported the institution of slavery. They also opposed the use of African Americans as ministers and insisted that slaves should be under the direct supervision of white pastors.