Rev. Peter Spencer, our Founder, was born in Kent County, Maryland, about 1779. He came to Wilmington, Delaware when quite young and joined Asbury M.E. Church, Third and Walnut Streets, Wilmington, Delaware. He was of over average intelligence, and soon became a leader of his group. Forty-two of the members of Asbury M.E. Church in 1805 were black, and after repeated denials of the rites of the Church, and denied legal redress, Peter Spencer and the forty-two members withdrew, and for peace and harmony, organized and worshiped in houses, groves, etc., until 1812. Then they built a Church at Ninth and French Streets (now Ezion M.E.), with no desire of forming a new denomination, and expected to be loyal and law-abiding Methodist Episcopal. But reserve the right to reject as their preachers those rejected by the M.E. Conference, Rev. Spencer, and his followers were told they had no other choice but to obey. Therefore, Spencer manfully refused and decided then to serve all relations with the M.E. Church. They purchased a lot and built a church at Eighth and French Streets, and there organized the first independent church of blacks, September 1813, with the following Incorporate Trustees: Rev. Peter Spencer, Scotland Hill, David Smith, Jacob March, Benjamin Webb, John Simmons, and John Kelly.

Rev. Peter Spencer organized thirty-one churches and erected a schoolhouse to each church. He completed his work and entered into rest July 25, 1843.