Zion Baptist Church (Historical Marker)

Here follows the inscription written on this roadside historical marker:

Zion Baptist Church
City of Alexandria, est. 1749
— Alexandria Heritage Trail —

A small group of Christian believers established Zion Baptist Church in 1864 on the corner of Wolfe and South Union Streets, northeast of the Wilkes Street Tunnel. At the end of the Civil War, Zion Baptist was one of five African American Baptist churches in Alexandria.

Many of Zion's founding members had settled in Alexandria during the Civil War, and most likely worked for the Federal government on the railroad or along the waterfront. Because of the prominence of the church in this low-lying area, the neighborhood was referred to as Zion Bottom. In the late 1860s and early 1870s, the church was also used as a meeting place in service to the community. By 1868, the year when African American men first voted in Virginia, Alexandria's First Ward Radical Republicans regularly met at Zion. They also used the church as a meeting place to nominate African American men to political office. In May 1877, local Radical Republicans chose George L. Seaton, one of the wealthiest African American people in Virginia, for City Council along with a handful of other African American men. The church held numerous services, festivals, and other events.

In the summer of 1873, the railroad forced many residents to leave the area around Wilkes Street Tunnel, and the original church location so that the company could build a distributing depot. Many moved their homes, community, and church to this area, on the land north of Battery Rodgers. Initially the church served its membership in a wood frame building. In 1882, the Zion Baptist Church erected a new brick church where it still stands today. The church's location on South Lee Street was further away from the threat of flooding and closer to the new location of the Zion Bottom neighborhood. The church opened to the public in June 1882, using funds raised by its congregants.

One of the most notable people associated with the church was the prominent civil rights attorney Samuel Wilbert Tucker. Born in 1913, Tucker grew up at 916 Queen Street. His father, Samuel Tucker, Jr. was based just a few doors from Zion Baptist Church, where the Tucker family worshiped. His father directed the Sunday School and the church choir and Tucker played the church piano. Tucker attended segregated schools in Alexandria and Washington, D.C., that left a deep impression on him and would later fuel his fire to fight for Civil Rights. Before becoming a leading attorney for the NAACP, Tucker staged a peaceful protest in 1939 at the whites-only library at 717 Queen Street in Alexandria. Tucker died in 1990 and his legacy continues in Alexandria and across the country. Today, the church serves the community by opening its doors to host various meetings, services, and other events.

[Captions:]
Detail from "City of Alexandria, Va.," G.M. Hopkins, 1877, showing Zion Baptist Church.

Article entitled "Dedication of Zion Church," reporting efforts by the Zion congregation to build a new church and the ceremonies surrounding its dedication.
Alexandria Gazette, October 30, 1882, 4

David H. Anderson's "Albumen photography of Jefferson Davis's grand jury," May 1867. George Lewis Seaton (standing center rear) sat on the Grand Jury that indicted former Confederate Jefferson Davis for treason against the United States. It was said to be the first integrated jury in the country. Federal prosecutors declined to prosecute. Reverend Fields Cook, founder of Ebenezer Church is also pictured (back row, second from the left).

Scholar Henry Lewis Gates Jr. once said, the "backbone of the church has been Black women almost from the very beginning," though this work is often not acknowledged. Women often took on the role of mothers and leaders in African American churches, including in Alexandria. Mother of Zion Baptist Church, Frances D. Gravitt, is buried in Coleman Cemetery in nearby Fairfax County.

Samuel Wilbert Tucker, a native of Alexandria and Zion Baptist Church member, became the leading attorney for the NAACP and worked tirelessly to end segregation and to bring civil rights to African American people.

Erected by City of Alexandria, Virginia. (Marker Number 11.)


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Here follows an excerpt from the church's website:

A brief History of Zion Baptist Church
In 1864, a small band of Christian believers decided to come together to secure a place where they could worship God according to the dictates of their conscience. The faithful believers established Zion Baptist Church as one of the first black congregations in Alexandria shortly after the Union Army troops occupation during the Civil War in 1861, near an area known as "Zion Hill," a longtime African-American neighborhood. The trend of the African-American population during that time greatly increased along the Potomac River, Wilkes Street, and as far as Mount Eagle Plantation near Hunting Creek in Alexandria, Virginia. However, the only sanctioned church close to this area was First Baptist Church of Alexandria, under the leadership of "Reverend Dr. C. C. Bitting as pastor."

The United States Senate formally abolished slavery on April 8, 1864 and all slaves were freed under the 13th Amendment. This group of Christian believers, who had recently been released from slavery, rented a small building at the corner of Wolfe and Union Street, "located in the vicinity of the railroad tunnel," under the guidance of a minister named Reverend Gladden. The first group of trustees chosen by members of the congregation to support the new church were: Sydney Dodson, Silas Dickerson, Robert Green, Joseph Conaway, McCaggie White, John Williams, Nathaniel Arnold, and Jarrett Green. The first group of deacons chosen by the congregation to support the newly established church were: McCaggie White, Reuben Payne, Thomas Reynolds, Silas Dickerson, John Williams, David Taylor, and James Craig. Among the founders of the church were several faithful women who prayed and helped to build the infrastructure of the congregation. The names of these inspirational woman were: Sally Beckman, Betsy Watkins, Sarah Daniels, Victoria White, Caroline Newman, Rebecca Dodson, Patsy Smith, and others. In the beginning, regular worship services on Sundays were conducted under the pastoral guidance of Reverend Gladden.

At end of the Civil War in April 9, 1865, "Zion Baptist"... was one of five "Baptist churches of colored people in [Alexandria]." Reverend Robert Woodson served as first pastor. Sometime later, Reverend Henderson was called to serve as pastor and he led the church until his death. The young church struggled along until Reverend Robert Holmes took charge as an efficient and stalwart pastor. During Reverend Holmes' administration the site on which the church currently stands, at 714 South Lee Street, was purchased in 1881. The cornerstone of the new church was laid with impressive ceremonies that were led by the Order of Odd Fellows of Alexandria, Virginia. Unfortunately, Reverend Holmes died before the construction of the new church was completed.

Later, Reverend Samuel M. Johnson was called to this field of labor as pastor in 1882, and he managed the completion of building the new church. Reverend Johnson served as distinguished pastor for forty-three years and was called to the "Great Beyond" in 1925. In appreciation of his great pastoral leadership, longevity, and love of the church, the membership established "S.M. Johnson's Day" as an annual observance on the Forth Sunday in January. After the death of Reverend Johnson, Zion persevered under the leadership of the Deacon Board for two years while the membership searched for a new shepherd to lead the church. After such time, Reverend R.D. Botts was called and was installed as the pastor in 1927. Reverend Botts was a great spiritual warrior and visionary leader of Zion Baptist Church. During his administration, many improvements to the facility were made at the church. It was through Reverend Botts' inspiration that he encouraged his son, the late Professor Joseph Botts, to organize a gospel choir at Zion. Professor Botts recruited and encouraged many of the young adults to unite with the church. Professor Botts organized and formed the "Chorale Ensemble," which became an outstanding and well know group of gospel singers in Northern Virginia.

One of most the notable personalities under Reverend Botts' pastoral leadership was the renowned Mr. Samuel Wilbert Tucker, "a Civil Rights Lawyer, who played the piano at church and resided with his family at 702 South Lee Street."4 Mr. Tucker's father also "served as superintendent of Sunday School and choir director."5 Reverend Botts faithfully served as pastor for thirty years until his death. After the death of Reverend Botts, the congregation called and installed Reverend William N. Thomas, a son of Zion, as pastor in November 1957. Reverend Thomas served as pastor for eleven years. During Reverend Thomas' tenure as pastor, Reverend June L. Jefferson served as a faithful associate pastor for many years and then relocated. Reverend Thomas was also instrumental in the renovation of the sanctuary and the lower level of the church, as the church continued to grow numerically but much more importantly, Zion grew spiritually.

In 1969, Reverend Robert C. Davis was called to provide pastoral leadership of Zion Baptist Church. Reverend Davis served faithfully for seventeen years as pastor until his untimely death in November 1985. During Reverend Davis' tenure, the membership continued to grow and the pastoral ministry increased as well. During Reverend Davis' tenure, he instituted a successful "Building Fund" campaign designed to assist in the upkeep of the facilities and provide financial support to help operate the church. During the period between November 1985 and 1987, Zion was again without a pastor and under the faithful leadership of the Deacon Board. In 1987, Reverend John Curtis McLean was called and installed as pastor of Zion Baptist Church on Sunday, July 26, 1987. Reverend McLean's pastoral leadership was guided by the inspiration of John 8:31; "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed."

During Reverend McLean's tenure as pastor, he organized and served as musician of the Mass Choir of Zion Baptist Church, which was presented in concert on March 19, 1989. Reverend McLean served as pastoral leader for seventeen years and resigned his position as pastor on January 1, 2004. As a result, Zion endured some hardships as many of the tenured members decided to leave the church and unite with other various churches in and around the local area. During the period between January 2004 and March 2004, Zion sought the pastoral services of Reverend Dr. John Harris to lead the congregation as interim pastor. Members of the congregation were elated with Reverend Harris' teaching, preaching, and leadership abilities. Subsequently, Reverend Harris was offered the opportunity to serve as pastor of Zion Baptist Church but amicably chose to pursue other ministry opportunities.

On January 2, 2007, Reverend Adam Hansford was called to provide stability at the church and served a one-year term as visiting pastor. Reverend Hansford term expired on January 31, 2008. After Reverend Hansford's tenure, the Deacon Board assumed leadership of the church again until the congregation called and installed Reverend Alphonso Fuelling as pastor in December 25, 2009. Reverend Alphonso Fuelling served the church faithfully until all parties amicably agreed to part ways on November 5, 2013.