Final answer:
The Rigging Loft does not have a direct historical connection to early Methodist worship in the provided context. Instead, the context discusses the rise of independent African American churches, particularly the AME Church, and the religious activities during the 19th century that shaped African American religious life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Rigging Loft does not appear to have a direct historical connection to early Methodist worship. The provided information does not give a specific location known as the Rigging Loft associated with Methodist activities. Instead, the context hints at the complex history of African American religious life in the 19th century. It emphasizes the emergence of independent African American churches and denominations, particularly the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. The AME was indeed an independent Black Protestant church, established in the 1790s by Richard Allen, and it represented a significant step in African Americans expressing their faith and seeking equality in the religious landscape dominated by white Methodists and other denominations.
This era of American history also saw the intersection of religious revivalism with the institution of slavery, where religious teachings were used to justify enslavement, and yet, revivals led to an increase in the Christianization of enslaved people. The religious activities mentioned, such as Methodist camp meetings and revivals, and the work of Baptist and Methodist preachers bringing the Gospel to slave communities, were crucial to the spiritual lives of both free and enslaved African Americans.