| First Baptist Church | |
|---|---|
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| 37°13′24″N 77°24′14″W / 37.22333°N 77.40389°W | |
| Location | 236 Harrison Street, Petersburg, Virginia |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Baptist |
| Website | www.firstbaptistpetersburg.org |
| History | |
| Founded | 1774 |
First Baptist Church (est. 1774) was the first Baptist church in Petersburg, Virginia;[1] one of the first African-American Baptist congregations in the United States, and one of the oldest black churches in the nation.[2] It established one of the first local schools for black children in the nation.
Its congregation was active during the 20th century Civil Rights Movement. Today it has the largest community outreach program in the city.
- ^ Albert J. Raboteau, Slave Religion: The 'Invisible Institution' in the Antebellum South, Oxford University Press, p. 137, accessed 27 Dec 2008
- ^ Henry Chase, "Proud, free and black: Petersburg - visiting the Virginia location of the largest number of 19th century free slaves", American Visions, Jun-Jul 1994, accessed 27 Dec 2008