during the 20th century, prominent ministers of the church included adam clayton powell sr. and adam clayton powell jr. over the years, the church has served as a place for african american spirituality, politics and community. the abyssinian baptist church congregation traces its history to 1809, when seamen from the ethiopian empire (then known as abyssinia) helped lead a protest against segregated church seating. it worshiped in several places before building the present church structure.