Brick-A-Day Church - Montgomery, Alabama - Alabama Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

First Baptist Church is a brick church built between 1910 and 1915 using bricks donated by the members, thus creating the name "Brick-A-Day Church." In 1916 it had 5,000 members, making it the largest black Baptist congregation in America. The building was bombed in 1957, during the civil rights era. The church is located at the corner of North Ripley Stree and Columbus Street where there was a vacant lot in 1867 when the church was organized. More information can be found at (visit link)

Marker Name: First Baptist Church / (Brick-A-Day Church) Marker Type: Urban Addtional Information:: The marker text reads: Front side: Organized in 1866, this pioneering congregation grew out of First Baptist Church, now on Perry Street, where early parishioners had worshipped as slaves. The first building, facing Columbus Street, was erected in 1867. Nathan Ashby served as first pastor (1866-70) to over 700 members and as first president of the Colored Baptist Convention of Alabama, now known as the Alabama Baptist State Convention, which was organized here in 1868. The Baptist Foreign Mission Convention, later part of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., was organized here in 1880. First Baptist hosted the first baccalaureate service for State Normal School, now Alabama State University, in 1890. Third pastor Dr. Andrew Jackson Stokes (1892-1924) organized the Montgomery Baptist Institute. After fire destroyed the first frame church, Stokes led a (Continued on other side) Reverse Side: (Continued from other side) rebuilding effort from 1910-1915. This Romanesque Revival style building was designed by architect W.T. Bailey of Tuskegee Institute and built largely of bricks donated by members, earning the name "Brick-A-Day Church." In 1916, membership was estimated over 5,000, making it the largest black Baptist congregation in America. This historic church is remembered for its role in the civil rights movement during the pastorate of Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy (1952-1961). On January 10, 1957, the church and its parsonage were bombed. Later that year it hosted the first Institute on Non-Violence and Social Change sponsored by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. In 1961, Freedom Riders, church members, and others were held captive inside for 15 hours by an angry mob. U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy federalized the Alabama National Guard to ensure their safe exit the next morning. Date Dedicated / Placed: Not listed Marker Number: Not listed

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