This Church Was A House Of Worship And Resistance
We all deserve faith communities that center our resistance and Black liberation efforts. Founded in 1773, this church did just that. But to be a site of resistance, its congregation had to keep a huge secret.
One of the oldest Black churches in the U.S. has a secret. This church, located in Savannah Georgia, has been hiding its history, which spans back before the U.S. became a country.
Hidden in the First African Baptist Church’s architecture are clues proving it was once a stop on the Underground Railroad.
It was common for Underground Railroad conductors to hang quilts outside their homes, signaling safety for those fleeing enslavement. Inspired by this code, the architects of the church designed it to look like a 9-patched quilt pattern.
Once inside, escapees were hidden underneath the floorboards. Carved into the floorboards were holes in the design of the BaKongo Cosmogram, a circular Congo-Angolan spiritual symbol. The design allowed the people under the floor to breathe.
For safety reasons, no written records were kept of those who took refuge in the church, but we do have the names of church members who assisted those seeking freedom.
The church’s clandestine operations intensified during the Civil War.
The church still holds worship services and offers public tours that remind visitors that sacred space for our people is a powerful form of resistance.
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