United States, Georgia, Muscogee County, Columbus, 32.46098, -84.98771Seibert, David, 1941-20201996/2014Location: 901 Fifth Avenue, ColumbusText of marker: "FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH. The initial congregation of this church was formed by slaves who had attended Ephesus Baptist Church (later First Baptist), since its organization on February 14, 1829. When a new church was built in 1840 the slaves worshipped in the older building. White ministers served the African Baptist Church until 1862 when Rev. Harry Watson became the first black minister. The church was granted a site at Eleventh Street and Sixth Avenue by the Georgia General Assembly but moved to its current location at a cost of $75,000 in 1915. It was renamed First African Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. J. H. Smith. ERECTED BY THE HISTORIC CHATTAHOOCHEE COMMISSION AND FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH 1994"image/jpegenghttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/Historical markers--Georgia--Muscogee CountyAfrican American churches--Georgia--ColumbusFirst African Baptist Church historical markerStillImage