On August 8, 1805, the African Baptist Church, Massachusetts’ oldest black church, was founded by Reverend Thomas Paul. Starting out the congregation had twenty-four members, nine men and fifteen women. They met at the African Meeting House.
The Cause
The church was formed after black people were prohibited from attending predominantly white churches like First and Second Baptist Churches.
The Impact
In 1833, Maria Stewart was the first woman and black woman to deliver a speech to an audience of men and women in front of the congregation.
Frederick Douglas used the church to deliver an anti-slavery speech in 1860.
Legacy
Today it’s called the People’s Baptist Church of Boston.
Sources
African Baptist Church: Blackpast
African Meeting House: NPS
TheBlack.Blog 