Two preachers born in Sussex County, Delaware went on to become national religious figures in the 19th century. These preachers were Reverend Samuel Eli Cornish and Bishop Jabez Pitt Campbell.

Samuel Eli Cornish moved to New York and founder the first Presbyterian Church in that city. He also was co-editor of Freedom’s Journal, the first African-American newspaper in the United States. His visibility and leadership in the African-American Community of the early 19th century was matched by few.

Bishop Jabez Pitt Campbell was the eighth Bishop of the AME Church. During his career, he was pastor to several churches in the northeast and mid-west and had over ten churches and a college in Mississippi named in his honor.

The achievements of these natives of the State of Delaware should be recognized and celebrated by current and future Delawareans.

Lecturer and Historian, Syl Woolford, is a native Delawarean. His interest in history began with the researching of his own family history in 2008. He traced his mother’s family back 210 years in the city of Newark, Delaware.

All his presentations are drawn from primary source documents and first person narratives. 

This program will be conducted via Zoom.  Registration is required with an email address.  Participants will receive instructions for joining the meeting via email ONE HOUR before it is scheduled.     

If you have any questions, please contact jennifer.atwood@newcastlede.gov