First African Baptist Church, often called FABC, began in 1773 under the guidance of Reverend George Leile. Because that date comes three years before 1776, the church’s roots reach back earlier than the founding of the United States. In May 1775, Rev. Leile was ordained as pastor, and in December 1777, the congregation was formally established as an organized community of believers. Among the early core members were four converts: Rev. Andrew Bryan, his wife Hannah Bryan, Kate Hogg, and Hagar Simpson.
In 1782, as Savannah was being evacuated, Pastor Leile chose to leave with the British rather than face the danger of being enslaved again, and he relocated to Jamaica. There, he became the first American missionary, arriving decades before Adoniram Judson departed for Burma, and he is also recognized as the first Baptist missionary in Jamaica.
Later, under the church’s third pastor, Reverend Andrew C. Marshall, the congregation secured the land where the current sanctuary stands. Rev. Marshall also founded what is described as the first Black Sunday School in North America and renamed the church from First Colored Baptist to First African Baptist. The sanctuary itself was completed in 1859 during the ministry of the fourth pastor, Reverend William J. Campbell.
Here is my video of my visit to the Church. Music is mine.
