Second Baptist Church

The nucleus of Second Baptist Church began with both Baptist and Methodist ex-slaves planting a bush arbor in the lower edge of the Old Pegues Estate, known as Amma Delle Subdivision. The ex-slaves prayed for a better day, for enlightenment of Gods word, for wisdom, knowledge, more grace, and faith, for homes, churches, and schools for their childr... en. After worshiping for awhile under the bush arbor, those early fore runners gained faith in God and confidence in themselves. A small group of Christian women transferred their membership from the White Baptist Church forming the first membership of Second Baptist Church. The members were Sister Jane Wilburn, Sister Jane Dickens, Sister Eliza Brown, Sister Vinna Thompson, Sister Matilda Ivy Sanders, Sister Betty McCloud, Sister Poly Avent, and the Churchs first Mother, Martha Butler. Reverend Ned Johnson served as their first pastor, and a non member, Henry Wood served as the custodian. On April 21, 1873 the group purchased the former church site, currently a parking lot, for the sum of fifty dollars ($50.00). Many contributions were made from the White Baptist Church and citizens of Oxford in the construction of the first and second frame church building. The most outstanding pastor of the early church was the Reverend H. W. Bowen, who came to Oxford from Macon, Mississippi. He pastored the early church membership and served as one of the first Negro school teachers of Oxford. From the pulpit, this noted leader advanced the ideas of education for children to the ex-slaves mothers and fathers. The first school for Negroes blossomed into existence in the first church structure. The first students were Callie Coleman Johnson, Mrs. Macon Taylor, and Joanna Isom. During the pastoring of Reverend Bowen, fire destroyed the first frame building; shortly thereafter a second frame structure took its place. On January 2-3, 1895 additional land was purchased from Taylor Robertson and wife Edmonia Robertson; the parcel land next to and adjoining Second Baptist Church. In ...Read More