The Grand Body of the Sisters of Charity

The Grand Body of the Sisters of Charity was created in 1874 by the Bethel African American Episcopal (AME) church. The organization served as a resource for black families moving to Indiana after the Civil War (1861-1865). The organization provided food, clothing, and medical treatments. In 1911, charity opened a hospital for the Black community. The Sisters also formed a home for the elderly and a women’s improvement club. Clubs allowed black women to have autonomy and participate in the social gospel movement.