First Baptist Church celebrates 150 years

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First Baptist Church at 347 N. Ripley Street invites Montgomery and Central Alabama to Its 150th Anniversary Celebration this fall

First Baptist Church of Montgomery, AL is a National Historic Civil Rights Landmark. The congregation first organized in 1866; early parishioners had worshiped during slavery at the other (White) First Baptist Church in Montgomery, on Perry Street. Before the American Civil War, Blacks were allowed only on the balcony of of the church; “they were never allowed on the main floor of the sanctuary unless they were sweeping or mopping.” In 1867, around 700 Colored communicants had marched to an empty lot on the corner of Ripley and Columbus Streets, declaring themselves the “First Baptist Church (Colored)” and founding what became “the first ‘free Negro’ institution in the city.” The wooden building, which faced north to Columbus Street, was called the Columbus Street Baptist Church.

The first pastor was Nathan Ashby, who became the first president of the Colored Baptist Convention in Alabama, founded in his church on December 17, 1868. Fire destroyed the first frame church. Between 1910 and 1915, the church was rebuilt{now facing east, toward Ripley Street) under the leadership of pastor Andrew Stokes. Members of the congregation were asked to each bring a brick a day to build it—hence the church’s nickname, the “Brick-A-Day Church.” The building was designed in the style of the Romanesque Revival bt W.T. Bailey of Tuskegee Institute.

From 1952 to 1961, the church was led by civil rights activist Ralph David Abernathy, a good friend of Martin Luther King, Jr., who preached a few blocks away, at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, from 1954 to 1960. During the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-56), it was the location of mass meetings. In the spring of 1958, the basement of the church was the site of the formal initiation of John Lewis into the civil rights movement.

In May of 1961, the church was a refuge for the passengers on the Freedom Ride which met with violence at the Greyhound Bus Station in downtown Montgomery. The church was filled with some 1500 worshipers and activists and was besieged by 3000 whites who threatened to burn it. The events of May 20-21, 1961, including the “siege of First Baptist,” played a crucial part in the desegregation of interstate travel.

First Baptist Church at 347 N. Ripley Street invites you to “Save The Dates” for their 150th Anniversary events:

 Friday November 4, 2016 at 6:00PM

Renaissance Montgomery – 201 Tallapoosa Street

The National Baptist Convention USA President’s  Banquet Celebrating The Mother Church’s 150th Anniversary

Dr. Jerry Young, National Baptist Convention President, Speaker.

 Saturday November 12, 2016 at 6:00PM

Troy University’s Davis Theater – 251 Montgomery Street

Stage Play “Letter from Louie” – The story about jazz great Louis Armstrong, in the latter part of his life Louis is asked by

God to present a gospel concert. Also, an evening honoring Civil   Rights Activists and Community Leaders.

 Sunday November 27, 2016 at 10:00am

First Baptist’s 150th Anniversary Church Service – 347 N. Ripley.

Contact Ms. Stinson (334) 264-6921 or [email protected]  for event and ticket information.

All rights reserved 2016.

 

 

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