In 1813, African-American Methodists led by Peter Spencer formed an independent denomination that became known as the African Union Church, the first incorporated religious body in the United States controlled entirely by African Americans. Early meetings of the Christiana Bridge congregation were likely held at private residences until 1850, when a brick structure was built for worship. In 1854, the group was formally incorporated as the African Union Church of Christiana Bridge. Soon afterward, a leadership dispute within the denomination led some member churches to separate, and the Christiana Bridge congregation followed leaders into a new denomination. In 1868, it was formally incorporated as the Union American Church of Christiana. In the late 19th century, the existing house of worship was moved from its original location when the congregation disassembled the structure and rebuilt it on property purchased from Louis Taylor. In 1898, the church was reincorporated as the Union American Methodist Episcopal Church of Christiana. After the mortgage was burned, Old Fort was added to the church name to honor the faithfulness of the congregation. In 1983, Old Fort UAME was added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of the White Clay Creek Hundred Multiple Resource Area.