1915 - First African Baptist Church - Columbus, GA
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Lat34North
N 32° 27.792 W 084° 59.182
16S E 689252 N 3593565
First African Baptist Church located at 901 Fifth Avenue, Columbus, GA.
Waymark Code: WM7XHX
Location: Georgia, United States
Date Posted: 12/18/2009
Views: 2
The corner stone is located in the NE corner of the church.
From the historic marker at the church
The initial congregation of this church was formed by slaves who had attended Ephesus Baptist Church (later First Baptist), since its organization on February 14, 1829. When a new church was built in 1840 the slaves worshipped in the older building. White ministers served the African Baptist Church until 1862 when Rev. Harry Watson became the first black minister. The church was granted a site at Eleventh Street and Sixth Avenue by the Georgia General Assembly but moved to its current location at a cost of $75,000. in 1915. It was renamed First African Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. J. H. Smith.
Erected by the Historic Chattahoochee Commission and the First African Baptist Church 1994
Year of construction: 1915
Cross-listed waymark: [Web Link]
Full inscription:
1st African Baptist Church
Organized 1842 AD
Erected here 1915 AD
Rev. J. H. Smith D.D. Pastor
A.F. Gary, clerk
Stone Laid by Live Oak Lodge
No. 4179 G.U.O. of O.F.
October 10, 1915
Stone donated by
Lavonia Shorter
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