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The Second Baptist Church in Ann Arbor's African-American Community
In the mid-nineteenth century, Ann Arbor had two African-American
churches: the Second Baptist Church and the Bethel African Methodist
Episcopal Church. Both churches were located in lower
town, near the Broadway Bridge. The church was place for African-Americans
to gather for social support as well as spiritual guidance. Despite their
importance to members, the black churches do not appear on some early maps
of the city. Click here to see an 1880 map of Ann Arbor which curiously
does not include the two African-American churches.
The existence of African-American churches prompts the question, why did
blacks and whites have different churches? While Ann Arbor was considered
to be moderate in its views on race, this does not mean that there was no
racial tension. On the one hand, some Ann Arborites published abolition
newspapers calling for an end to slavery and assisted slaves though the
Underground Railroad -- a series of houses that sheltered slave escaping
from the south to the north. To learn more about these activities, return
to the Topics main page and select "The African-American Community." On
the other hand, some residents still considered African-Americans to be
"different." Click here to read one man's reaction to an 1886 New Year's
Eve "Night Watch" service at an African-American church.
This section uses the Second Baptist Church as a means of exploring the
relationship of a church to its members and the larger community. Plans to
build Second Baptist began in 1865, just forty-three years after Ann Arbor
was founded. The first place of worship was in a cottage frame located on
the southwest corner of Elizabeth and High Streets. Click here to see a
photograph of the original church building.
Although there are not many records on the founding of the Second Baptist
Church, some of the early church history has been passed orally from
generation to generation. According to the children of church founders,
the first services were led by Reverend Lewis and attended by Richard
Zebbs, David Crawford, Spencer Crawford, Nancy Chester, Emma Freeman,
Victoria Blackburn, and Charlie Taylor and his wife. Click here to see a
photograph of Richard Zebbs, one of the first Second Baptist Church Members.
The church served as center for education in addition to religion. Sunday
School class were held for children of all ages. Vacation Bible School and
after-school programs provided activities for adolescents. Adult programs
included the mission board, which was formed to support mission work both
locally and internationally. Projects ranged from organizing Christmas
fruit baskets for local hospitals, to sending clothing and equipment to
West Africa. Click here to learn more about the church education and
outreach activities.
The Second Baptist Church was also an advocate for African American
political and economic rights. Reverend Charles W. Carpenter played a
significant role in organizing and promoting the position of Ann Arbor's
black residents. During the 1930s he coordinated a multi-church written
report about the depression with "particular reference to the Negro."
Click here to learn more about Reverend Carpenter's background, education,
and political life.
How does Milton Taggert describe his experiences in two different churches?
What does this letter tell you about Taggert?
Why do you think the Second Baptist Church is so important to the
African-American community?
What do Reverend Carpenters letters and pamphlets tell you about the lives
of African Americans in Ann Arbor in the early twentieth century?
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Students On Site is a community
project of the Arts of Citizenship Program at the University of Michigan,
funded in part by the Michigan Humanities
Council and the U-M Office of the Vice-President For Research.
This website is a collaboration between the Arts of Citizenship Program
theCHICO
Project of the School of Information
and the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan.
