First African Baptist Church
Founded in 1809, it is one of the first black Baptist churches in America and the oldest in Pa. In 1832, two members, John and Samuel Bivins, sold themselves into slavery to free an enslaved man, James Burroughs, to serve as pastor. After a year, Burroughs paid the slaveowner and the Bivinses were freed. F.A.B members helped found Downingtown Industrial School and many Philadelphia-area churches. Booker T. Washington spoke at the church centennial.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDigital Commonwealth, Boston Public LibraryDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesBarry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDigital Commonwealth, Boston Public Library
Marker data: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission via data.pa.gov
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