Mount Zion is a historic Baptist church located at Charlottesville, Virginia. Although the current Mount Zion Baptist Church has only been in existence since 1884, the roots of the church are much deeper. The church began with a petition in 1864 to separate from the segregated white Baptist church, and the congregation was officially organized in 1867. Initially taking residence in the house of Samuel White, the congregation soon grew too large for the house, and in 1875 built a wooden church in the lot next door. In 1884, they finished the current, brick church that still stands today. The church was designed by George Wallace Spooner, who also helped rebuild the Rotunda at the University of Virginia.[3]
Mount Zion Baptist Church | |
 Looking up from the base | |
   | |
| Location | 105 Ridge St. Charlottesville, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°1′48″N 78°29′10″W / 38.03000°N 78.48611°W |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival; Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 92001388[1] |
| VLR No. | 104-0181 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1992 |
| Designated VLR | June 19, 1991[2] |
Rich in cultural history, the Mount Zion Baptist Church has seen more than just prayer. A social and political hub for African-Americans, it has seen the turbulent times of Jim Crow, the Civil Rights Movement, and Urban Renewal. The congregation is still in place today, and the church remains a pillar of strength and pride in the black community.
In 1966 the Minister of the Mount Zion Baptist Church was J.B. Hamilton and the Clerk was Mrs. Ethel P. Nicholas.[4]
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
- ^ "104-0181 Mount Zion Baptist Church". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. February 8, 2019. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
- ^ Burley High School Year Book 'Jay Pee Bee' 1966. Charlottesville, VA: Jackson P. Burley High School. 1966. p. 95.