Reconstruction of Historic Black Church in Williamsburg Celebrated

The reconstruction of one of the nation's oldest Black churches, the First Baptist Church of Williamsburg, was celebrated Friday. Hundreds gathered for the community-wide rededication of the church, which was established in 1776 by enslaved and free African Americans who defied laws prohibiting their congregations.

The original church house, known as the African Baptist Meeting House, was built in 1805 by parishioners using salvaged materials. It was destroyed by a tornado in 1834 and rebuilt in 1856. The site was later converted into a parking lot by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, a living history museum, as it did not align with the town's 18th-century aesthetic.

In 2021, archaeologists uncovered the church's original foundation and 62 graves linked to the congregation, leading to its reconstruction. The 16-foot by 32-foot church has now been rebuilt on its original site.

"What this day means and shows is that Black history is American history, and we’re an example for the rest of the nation," said Reginald F. Davis, pastor of First Baptist. "A church that has a history that was during the signing of the Declaration of Independence, you cannot erase us out of American history because we have been at the outset and formulation of the nation."

Colonial Williamsburg has, in recent years, worked to incorporate the church's history into its narrative. "This is a reclamation, a reclaiming of the narrative," said Janice Canaday, community engagement manager at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

The rededication event began with a procession and featured performances by the Nassau Street Remembrance Choir. Speakers included Virginia state Senator Mamie Locke and James Ingram, a museum interpreter who portrayed Gowan Pamphlet, the church's pastor when the original structure was built.

Ingram described Pamphlet as "a precursor to someone like Frederick Douglass, who would be the precursor to someone like Martin Luther King Jr." Pamphlet, an enslaved tavern worker, preached about equality despite laws enacted out of fear of slave uprisings.

Archaeological findings included the remains of 62 community members. DNA tests and bone analyses on three sets of remains confirmed their connection to the congregation. Oral traditions had initially guided the search for the burial site.

"We knew the building was here, and we knew that there were maybe burials behind it," said Jennifer Wilkoski, director of architectural preservation and research at Colonial Williamsburg. Davis called the 2021 discovery "a rediscovery of the humanity of a people."

"We were just so elated that those people who had been buried and forgotten, have now been unearthed and given the recognition as human beings, as they should have been," Davis stated. "It’s a wonderful time to shed light on our history in light of the erasure of so many things within our history."

The reconstructed meeting house was built using pine and white oak, replicating details such as the original half-round brick steps. Modern additions include an HVAC system, shutters, and handblown glass windows. Finishing touches, including an ADA-accessible ramp, are expected to be completed in the coming months. Pastor Davis views the reconstructed meeting house as long-overdue recognition for those working to "make America a more perfect union."