Malden in Kanawha County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

African Zion Baptist Church

1852

African Baptist Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 31, 2021

1. African Baptist Church Marker

Inscription. Famous as the church of Booker T. Washington, this church began in 1852 with a group of enslaved Christians. During the Civil War, Pastor Lewis Rice organized them into one of the nation's first churches started and completely controlled by slaves. In freedom, they formed the State's first Black Baptist Church and the State's second school for Blacks. In 1872, they purchased this property and later constructed this building. It stands as a rare icon of success for the Reconstruction Era.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion • Education • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1852.

Location. 38° 17.976′ N, 81° 33.435′ W. Marker is in Malden, West Virginia, in Kanawha County. Marker is on Malden Drive south of Wise Drive, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4120 Malden Dr, Charleston WV 25306, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Booker T. Washington (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Necessary Ingredient (about 300 feet away); Lewis Ruffner (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Booker T. Washington (about 300 feet away); Rev. Ruffner's Grave

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(about 500 feet away); Ruffner Well (approx. ¼ mile away); Burning Spring Monument (approx. 2.1 miles away); Daniel Boone (approx. 2.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Malden.

African Baptist Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 31, 2021

2. African Baptist Church

National Register of Historic Places plaque on the church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 31, 2021

3. National Register of Historic Places plaque on the church

Credits. This page was last revised on December 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 91 times since then and 8 times this year. Last updated on December 19, 2023, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 5, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.