Sunlight on the Belltower of Historic First African Baptist Church, Savannah in Sepia Photograph by Rebecca Carr

Sunlight on the Belltower of Historic First African Baptist Church, Savannah in Sepia

by Rebecca Carr

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Title

Sunlight on the Belltower of Historic First African Baptist Church, Savannah in Sepia

Artist

Rebecca Carr

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Photograph - Digital Photography

Description

A break in the clouds brought a moment of sunlight across the belltower of the First African Baptist Church in Savannah, Georgia. This church brought the sunlight of freedom to untold numbers of slaves. "The First African Baptist Church has a long and storied history in Savannah Georgia. It is thought to be the oldest African-American Congregation in the United States. The congregation was formed in 1733 by Reverend George Leile. The building which houses the Church was finished in 1859, almost 100 years after the land was obtained for the church. The man who oversaw the completion of the Church was Reverend William J. Campbell.

The First African Baptist Church was used as a stop along the Underground Railroad. For the safety of those who offered refuge, no records were kept of how many slaves used the Church on their way to the North. A unique feature in the Church which relates to the Underground Railroad are the holes in the floor in certain areas of the Church. These holes are arranged in a pattern known as a Congolese Cosmogram. This pattern represented life so it fits with the church. The real reason for these holes was breathing holes for slaves who were hidden beneath the floorboards.

A different design aspect of the Church also signifies it as a stop along the Underground Railroad. The ceiling of the Church is designed with what is called a Nine Patch Quilt. This design showed that this was a place of resting and safety for the slaves who used the Church. Of course, it was a hidden signal that only certain people knew about. Most people would have thought the Nine Patch Quilt simply a beautiful design." (https://gallivanter.travel/savannah/attractions/first-african-baptist-church/)

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July 25th, 2019

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