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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.
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 network of houses that sheltered slaves escaping from the South to the North. On the other hand, some residents still considered African-Americans to be "different." .
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 Church began in 1865, just 43 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.
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.
The church served as a center for education in addition to religion. Sunday School classes 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.
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."
