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[CULTURE] · United States · 4 sources

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First Baptist Church of Williamsburg celebrates reconstruction

First Baptist Church of Williamsburg African American history church reconstruction Colonial Williamsburg Black religious traditions

Hundreds of residents gathered in Williamsburg, Virginia, for the re-dedication of the reconstructed First Baptist Church of Williamsburg. Established in 1776 by enslaved and free African Americans, the church served as a vital site for Black faith traditions during a period when laws restricted such congregations.

The original structure, known as the African Baptist Meeting House, was built in 1805 using scavenged and recycled materials. Following its destruction by a tornado in 1834 and a subsequent rebuilding in 1856, the site was eventually converted into a parking lot by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation to maintain the town’s 18th-century aesthetic.

The reconstruction follows a 2021 archaeological discovery of the original foundation and 62 graves associated with the congregation. Pastor Reginald F. Davis noted the significance of the event, stating that the church’s history is integral to the formulation of the nation.

Entities

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation · First Baptist Church of Williamsburg · Reginald F. Davis · Virginia · Williamsburg

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Sources

Churchgoers celebrate reconstruction of one of the oldest Black churches in the US [offthepress.com]
Congregants celebrate the reconstruction of one of America's oldest Black churches [www.whec.com]
Congregants celebrate the reconstruction of one of America’s oldest Black churches [www.troyrecord.com]
Churchgoers celebrate reconstruction of one of the oldest Black churches in the US [nypost.com]