First African Foundation

First African Baptist Church History

 How did this building come to be?

13- In 1790, Peter Duerett, an enslaved preacher, who had come to Kentucky from Virginia with Craig’s Traveling Church, gathered enslaved believers to form the African Church, the first west of the Allegheny. They met at the cabin in which Peter and his wife lived until they outgrew the space. They met in factory warehouses in downtown Lexington until

14- 1815 when the church trustees, who were free, Samuel Oldham, Parker Peay, Rolly Blue and others, signed a deed for a lot and building at the corner of South Mulberry (now South Limestone Street) and Maxwell.

15- In the same year, Rev. London Ferrill and his wife Rhoda, free blacks who had migrated from Virginia in 1812, buy a lot on East Short Street and built their two-story brick home. It was adjacent to the small brick building constructed in 1806 by the Methodist Church (white).

16- So it was not by happenstance that the African Church purchased the lot and building on East Short and Back Streets (now Dewees) in February of 1833. Rev. Ferrill had been the spiritual leader of the congregation for ten years; Peter Duerett having died in 1823. The congregation is impacted between June and August when 184 enslaved and 48 free Blacks die of cholera, one of whom was Rhoda Ferrill

In 834 the lot at South Mulberry and Maxwell streets is sold to Sarah Sayre.

17- The congregation continues to worship in the small building until 1856 when Rev. Frederick Braxton, who succeeded Rev. Ferrill after his death in 1854, leads them to construct their first new building especially designed for their use. It measured 65x90 feet. It plays a vital role in the development of a growing community.

18- The Meetinghouse was used for a school in 1865; meetings of local and state organizations: YMCA, Benevolent Society No.2; Association of Baptist (colored) which later becomes the General Association of Baptist; benefit concerts for the Colored Day Nursery; Emancipation Celebration: training program for nurses; job employment center; WPA work center

19- The walls of the meeting house heard the voices of those fighting discrimination during the separate coach protest and of those forming and supporting organizations for the uplift of our people. The happy voices of children graduating and voices singing in concert echo as well.

Individuals (to name a few) who attended meetings here were informed and entertained by

Charles Parrish, president of Simmons University

Isaac Scott Hathaway, artist

Lillian Frazier, poet

Madam C.J. Walker, hair care product millionaires

Adam Clayton Powell, Sr., politician

Rev. Henry Boyd, Director National Baptist Publishing House

Starling Hatchet, winner of Marion Anderson Music Scholarship

20- After 158 years the building is still standing as the only Italianate structure remaining in East Lexington. Our slave ancestors were inspired to build it, surely we can restore and revive it.

1-First African Foundation, Inc. independently of the 1^st African Baptist church, was founded in December 2010; IRS non-profit status granted in July 2011.

2-William E. Thomas, our founding president, was a member of 1^st Baptist Church. As a child he was inspired to study a string instrument when he learned that his grandmother, Ellen Williams Thomas had taught violin. After graduating from Oberlin in Ohio and Pennsylvania University, he studied in Europe. He became a professional Cellist, performing in the United States, Europe, Asia and Japan

3- He became Department Chair and Director of Performance at Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts where he taught, mentored and inspired hundreds of young people for 36 years. He was Artist Director with Project STEP and Music Director of the Cambridge Community Choir.

4- Mr. Thomas researched performed and recorded the music of Black Composers in 1998 and 2003. He died suddenly in April 2013.

5- He had gathered like minded individuals to form the First African Foundation, Inc. to Reclaim, Restore, Revive the Old African Meetinghouse

6 –Individuals (to name a few) who attended meetings here were informed and entertained by

Charles Parrish, president of Simmons University

Isaac Scott Hathaway, artist

Lillian Frazier, poet

Madam C.J. Walker, hair care product millionaires

Adam Clayton Powell, Sr., politician

Rev. Henry Boyd, Director National Baptist Publishing House

Starling Hatchet, winner of Marion Anderson Music Scholarship

Mrs. Booker T. Washington

7- Although the space looks like this now (photo of gym)

8 -We propose that it can be revived as a concert/lecture hall with main floor seating to accommodate 250 and balcony seating to accommodate 100

9 -In 1926, an annex was constructed for use by Sunday School classes and to serve as administrative office

10- The Foundation proposed to revive it as an educational center for music, art, history genealogy research and administrative offices for a director, curator and staff.

11- A proposed addition will have elevators for easier access to the building and to all floors.

Tourism has become one of Kentucky’s best revenue sources. Just this week (June 2^nd) a news feature stated that authentic African American information has become highly attractive to tourists who come to the state. It will link us to other cities and states that have restored and revived their old meeting houses and bring visitors to us. The restored building can once again play a dynamic role and serve the community as it once did.

21- From the beginning, there are organizations who have encouraged, advised and supported us.

First African Baptist Church, Bluegrass Trust for Preservation, Lexington Public Library, Lexington Jazz Foundation, Preservation Kentucky. In Massachusetts – Massachusetts Committee for the First African Foundation and Phillips Academy. In New York, the Tang Foundation

22- The Kentucky African American Heritage Commission, chaired by Dr. Gerald Smith, endorsed our efforts in December 2013.

23- 160 individuals have contributed nearly $100,000. They live from California to Virginia and points in between.

$70,000 of that amount has been paid to hold our option with Central Christian Church, current owners of the property since 1986

24- Our agreement is for purchase of the two buildings and adjacent lots which have independently been appraised at $1.4 million.

25- Members of the board

26- Truly and sincerely THANK those who have given and continue to do so and to those who will give and pledge to help us

27- Reclaim, Restore and Revive the Old African Meetinghouse

28- Join us for our next event on August 8^th with Kevin Harris and Michel Cruse as we explore the art of Jazz.

arch 5, 1770, which helped spark the American Revolution.