The history of African American churches in Tallahassee, Florida, is a testament to faith, resilience, and community empowerment. From their humble beginnings in the early 1830s to their pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement, these churches have been beacons of hope and agents of change.
In the early 1830s, enslaved blacks began worshipping on the Leon County plantation of John Parkhill. They had no framework, at least in terms of a physical structure, but they had faith.
Map of Leon County, Florida
Bethel Missionary Baptist Church: A Pillar of the Community
Bethel Missionary Baptist Church maintains a tradition in the spirit of the Rev. James Page, who founded the church in 1870, around the time he became a Leon County commissioner. To meet the needs of the black community, Rev. Bethel Missionary Baptist Church this year celebrates its 150th anniversary in the spirit of Rev. Page.
Its sanctuary on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, which in 1976 replaced the building that Rev. Page opened more than 100 years earlier, stands as the epicenter of the church’s community-based projects and initiatives. It aims to transform “the lives of people for the glory of God and for the good of the community,” said Rev. Dr. R.B.
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In 1870, around the time he became a Leon County commissioner, Page started his second church: Bethel Baptist in Tallahassee. Page’s followers and influence would grow. Plantation owners saw him as a man they could trust to preach a theology that would keep their slaves in line, according to a 1997 paper by Leslie L. Ashford, a Florida A&M University student at the time.
“Bethel just celebrated her 149th church anniversary. Since 1870 to the present, the church has been around historically, politically, socially and spiritually … and this church has always been in the forefront of major events.
“We’re very cut from the cloth of what somebody may call traditional. We believe in the Christian faith. We believe that people do better, perhaps physically, emotionally, spiritually, economically, when they have a relationship with our lord and savior, Jesus Christ. We believe a person does better when they have a sense of faith - not denomination - but faith. At the same time, we … I preach Jesus - death, burial and resurrection. Also, we love our neighbors. They may be gay, straight, transgender. God loves everybody. So, we embrace people. We’re not judgmental. When you’re an African American church, you know the pain of discrimination.
“We embrace immigrants. I know (televangelist) Paula White doesn’t agree with this, but Jesus was an immigrant. And the Bible talks a whole lot about strangers and the poor. So, I’m not too sure that I preach hell and brimstone, but I don’t preach prosperity gospel. There’s nothing wrong with wealth and health, but Jesus did not come to make us millionaires or billionaires or poor.
Martin Luther King Jr.
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The Civil Rights Movement and Bethel's Leadership
Perhaps Bethel’s most prominent moments date to the civil rights movement under Rev. C.K. Steele, who organized the 1956 Tallahassee bus boycott, marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and served as a founding member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
As you know, the civil rights movement was not figuratively but literally birthed at the church and the leadership of the saintly Rev. C.K. Steele. “The civil rights movement was not figuratively but literally birthed at the church,”
Celebrating the leadership of the black churches in Leon County The Rev. Charles Kenzie (C.K.) Steele was lifted to national prominence by his leadership of 1956 Tallahassee bus boycott. As pastor of the pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, he led local and state ministers in the Civil Rights Movement. Rev. Steele became vice president of Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and valued lieutenant of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
His nonviolent approach in the local civil rights movement and his unselfish leadership and sacrifice will forever be etched in history of all Americans. His quiet demeanor and engaging brilliance to work across the racial divide earned him a legacy that will be cherished by generations to come. The Bethel Missionary Baptist Church located at 224 South Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and many of its parishioners became the ground soldiers who was led and guided by their gifted Pastor the Rev. Dr. CK Steele.
The Rev. Steele was a visionary and was hand-picked by Dr. King to be the guiding force behind the SCLC.During the Civil Rights Movement, the Rev. A. C. Redd, Pastor of St. James CME Church joined the Rev. CK Steele of Bethel Baptist and the Rev. H. McNeal Harris, Pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, and collectively led the Tallahassee bus boycott to integrate the public transportation system.
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“I think the greatest challenge here was during the civil rights movement: Should the church be engaged in civil rights protests, or should we wait for Jesus to come to solve it? Some felt that the church ought not be involved in that.
“There’s a lot of anger and division and meanness in America. That’s probably one of the reasons, among many other reasons, why folk elected Donald Trump. Folk felt they’d been left behind and thought maybe they needed somebody who was not a politician to be president. I think that came because a lot of dissension, division, anger. And I think: How do we get beyond the anger, the resentment, the hostility toward immigrants, blacks, Jews, other minorities? As you know, there’s a real uptick in antisemitism and bigotry in this country, like never before. So, as a pastor, there’s some tension there. We thought we were in a post-racial time, but these days feel that the racism is real and very systemic. It’s institutional racism.
“We have great relationships with the white clergy and the Jewish clergy. And during Lenten season, the Christians will get together and exchange pulpits. That has been very, very hopeful, very helpful and very wholesome. We have a great relationship with the ministers. It’s very ecumenical. And I think we need to do more of that. When the situation happened in the Pittsburgh synagogue, we immediately reached out to talk to my rabbi at Temple Israel, and we had a service at Bethel and a service at the temple.
“There’s a scripture in the Old Testament that says there was a tribe called Issachar. That tribe knew what time it was but also knew how to work within the times, knew what to do in the times. We may change. But Christ is changeless.
“From a historical economic development perspective, the church always encouraged folk to become entrepreneurs, to understand enterprise, to leave something behind for the next generation. From a spiritual perspective, it is where I’m most thankful.
“We’ve got a good, strong group of baby boomers, a thriving group of millennials, a good children’s church, a good youth church.
“Our theme is transforming the lives of people for the glory of God and for the good of the community. Matthew 5:16 - ‘Let your light so shine before men and women that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.’ So, our message and ministry and mission is to be light in a dark world and to be hope in time of despair. Our mission is not to become so stain-glass-centered just on Sunday morning and do nothing about folks’ lives Monday through Saturday. So that has been the history of Bethel. We believe in transforming the community, and once we transform, we don’t give the glory to the pastor or folk.
Of the church, Rev. Holmes said, “It has a proud history, a very sobering history. Rev. Holmes sat down with Tallahassee Magazine recently to discuss the church’s history, membership, community engagement and more.
Bethel’s membership boasts a litany of firsts, including Tallahassee’s first African American mayor, James Ford; Florida’s first African American state Supreme Court chief justice, Leander J.
Rev. James Page, Florida’s first ordained black minister, died in March 1883 at age 75. He is buried at Tallahassee’s Old City Cemetery, at 400 W. Park Ave. The cemetery “represents a cross section of people during the 19th century,” according to the City of Tallahassee.
Paving the way for today: How the Black Church supported the Civil Rights Movement
Other Significant Churches and Landmarks
Several other churches and landmarks in Tallahassee played crucial roles in the history of the African American community and the Civil Rights Movement:
- St. James CME Church: Founded in 1868, it is the oldest church building in Tallahassee, constructed on land purchased by Black Members of the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church.
- Bethel AME Church: Transformed in 1867, its members were actively involved in the Civil Rights movement, with notable figures like Seth Gaines, Malachi Andrews, and Martha Williams Andrews.
- Saint Michael’s All Angels Episcopal Church: Father David Brooks, a Black activist and Episcopal priest, was a member of the Inter-Civil Council and president of the Tallahassee NAACP.
- Fountain Chapel AME Church: Rev. King Solomon DuPont was the first black to run for public office in Tallahassee since Reconstruction.
- Philadelphia Primitive Baptist Church: Led by Rev. Moses General Miles, who also served as FAMU dean of students, the church played a role in the Civil Rights Movement.
- St. Mary Primitive Baptist Church: Rev. R.N. Gooden led efforts to end discrimination against blacks in voting, housing, employment, and police treatment.
- Watson Temple Institutional Church of God in Christ: Elder Owen Smith and Elder E. L. Sheppard led the church during the Civil Rights Movement, providing a safe haven for university students.
- St. Peter Primitive Baptist Church and Testerina Primitive Baptist Church: Founded by former slaves in eastern Leon County, their pastors actively encouraged members to participate in the Civil Rights Movement.
- Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church: Under the leadership of the Rev. W. W. Wood, the church used its facilities for college students involved in the Civil Rights Movement.
Tallahassee Civil Rights Trail Map
In addition to these churches, several landmarks in Tallahassee commemorate the history of the African American community and the Civil Rights Movement:
- Smokey Hollow Commemoration: Located at Cascades Park, it celebrates the legacy of the historic black neighborhood of Smokey Hollow.
- Rosa Parks Mural at the People’s Advocacy Center: A reminder of the power of people when brave enough to do what is right.
- Civil Rights Heritage Downtown: The Tallahassee-Leon County Civil Rights Walk honors more than 50 local foot soldiers of the Civil Rights movement.
- Tallahassee Civil Rights Memorial: Located on the site of the former Leon County Jail, it honors the courageous men and women who led the jail-in to protest segregation.
- Soul Voices of Frenchtown Heritage Trail: Tells the story of the historic Frenchtown neighborhood through the voices of those who lived there.
- Integration Statue at FSU: A reminder of the bridges African American students on FSU’s campus had to cross.
- “Justice” Mural at Law Offices of Anabelle Dias P.A.: Spotlights leaders who fought for justice, including Frederick Douglass, Ruby Bridges, and Malcom X.
- Eternal Flame at FAMU: Represents the spirit that lies within every FAMU student- past, present, and future.
- John G. Riley Museum: Upholds Riley’s life mission of education and service.
- Fabric of Life Mural by Pamela Bowens-Saffo near FAMU: A celebration of former slave and folk artist Harriet Powers and African American graphic artist Elizabeth Catlett.
- Frenchtown Heritage Hub: Supports local businesses, farmers, and creators in the Frenchtown neighborhood.
- C.K. Steele Statue at C.K. Steele Plaza: Honors Charles Kenzie Steele, a Civil Rights leader who organized the 1956 Bus boycott.
- Old Lincoln High School Historic Marker: Commemorates the first school for African Americans in Leon County.
