Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas
Marker Inscription
On Dec. 25, 1894, state evangelist the Rev. Frank Tribune organized this Baptist church with five members: Ella and Lee Brooks, Katie Patterson, Laura Purvis, and Josephine Wells. With help from the Rev. Dr. A.R. Griggs, the members built a frame structure in 1907 at the corner of Louisiana and Rosedale. In 1915 the present site was acquired and a tabernacle erected. This brick church building was begun in 1919 under the Rev. M.K. Curry. The church debt was paid during the Rev. A.W. Pryor's pastorate, 1924-1949. While the Rev. S.T. Alexander was Pastor, 1949-1968, an education building was added. (1978)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
On Christmas Day 1894, evangelist the Rev. Frank Tribune gathered five founding members—four of them women—to organize Mt. Zion Baptist Church, aided by the prominent Black Baptist leader the Rev. Dr. A. R. Griggs. The congregation worshipped in a 1907 frame building, then a tabernacle, before raising this brick sanctuary beginning in 1919 and adding an education building in the mid-20th century.
Why it matters
Congregations like Mt. Zion were pillars of African American community life in the segregation era, providing worship, education, and leadership when few other institutions would.
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Related people
- · Rev. Frank Tribune
- · Rev. Dr. A. R. Griggs
- · Rev. M. K. Curry
- · Rev. A. W. Pryor
Themes & tags
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