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First African Baptist Church

Richmond (Ind. City) County · dedicated 2013 · E. Broad Street, just off the northeast corner of its intersection with College Street

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Tracing its roots to 1780 as the First Baptist Church, the First African Baptist Church was bought and organized by freedmen and slaves in 1841. The present building was erected on the same site in 1876. The establishment of First African Baptist Church led to the organization of other local black churches. In 1865, the site hosted the first Republican State Convention held in Virginia and Jefferson Davis's last speech as president of the Confederacy, and later a lecture by Booker T. Washington. The Rev. John Jasper, Henry “Box” Brown, and Maggie L. Walker were baptized at First African Baptist Church.

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

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On the National Register nearby

Beers, William, House130 ft
First African Baptist Church130 ft
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2 more listed places within 300 feetall Virginia listings

Places within about 300 feet of this marker that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A nearby listing is not always the marker's own subject.