This may be common knowledge, but as you know, THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH was established in 1820, led by JAMES VARICK, in New York City, who was a preacher in the John Street Methodist Episcopal Church. The pioneering black methodists in NYC added "ZION", because the Bible frequently uses that word to designate the church of God. From this beginning, the founders of the John Wesley AME Zion Church in Washington, D.C., were destined to draw their inspiration and guidance as were other churches in D.C. and across the country. They established the Varick Christian Endeavor Society and later the Varick Apartment in Newburg, New York. Aurelia Varick,was his grandaughter, Daniel Varick, Day, Eliza,Martha, etc. James Varick was born in 1750,in Orange County,near Newburgh, New York. His mother was a slave of the household of the Varicks, of Dutch descent, who settled in Hackensack, New Jersey, as early as 1687. His father,Richard varick was born and baptized in the Dutch Church of Hackensack, N.J. and later moved to NYC with his family.