Title
Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church
Subject
Churches
Historical Markers--Tuscaloosa, AL
Description
Organized ca. 1870 near the banks of the Black Warrior River, "The Grove" was the first Baptist church begun by African Americans in Tuscaloosa's Big Bend community. Former slaves comprised the original congregation. Early services were held in the homes of members and in brush arbors.
The congregation grew quickly and eventually divided into two bodies: Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church and Beautiful Zion African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. For a time, the two churches visited each other for worship services on alternate Sundays; Beautiful Zion led services on the first and third Sunday and the Grove led them on the second and fourth Sunday. Rev. Henry Jones served as the first pastor of the Grove. Now entirely separate, both churches hold full weekly worship services and remain active in the spiritual life of the Big Bend community.
Land along the well-traversed Sanders Ferry Road was deeded to the Grove on July 13, 1870. The current red-brick structure, the church's third edifice, was completed in 1989. The church is located at 6801 Sanders Ferry Road, Tuscaloosa. The historical marker was placed at the site in 2016 by the Alabama Historical Association. (Information from Alabama Historical Association, Volume 32, Issue 1, Spring 2017)
The congregation grew quickly and eventually divided into two bodies: Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church and Beautiful Zion African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. For a time, the two churches visited each other for worship services on alternate Sundays; Beautiful Zion led services on the first and third Sunday and the Grove led them on the second and fourth Sunday. Rev. Henry Jones served as the first pastor of the Grove. Now entirely separate, both churches hold full weekly worship services and remain active in the spiritual life of the Big Bend community.
Land along the well-traversed Sanders Ferry Road was deeded to the Grove on July 13, 1870. The current red-brick structure, the church's third edifice, was completed in 1989. The church is located at 6801 Sanders Ferry Road, Tuscaloosa. The historical marker was placed at the site in 2016 by the Alabama Historical Association. (Information from Alabama Historical Association, Volume 32, Issue 1, Spring 2017)
Creator
Betty Slowe
Source
Betty Slowe
Date
March 22, 2017
Contributor
Betty Slowe (Description)
Type
Photograph
Identifier
557
Coverage
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Original Format
Photograph