Bristol, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Lee Street Baptist Church

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 23, 2022

1. Lee Street Baptist Church Marker

Inscription. In 1865, at the dawn of their freedom from slavery, 42 former members of the white-led Goodson (now First) Baptist Church organized the Anglo African Baptist Church. The congregation met in a series of buildings until, under the leadership of the Rev. Charles Henry Johnson, they built a new edifice just across the street from here in 1905. The Rev. Johnson served the church, later renamed Lee Street Baptist, until he died during his 42nd year as pastor in 1932. After six decades here, the original brick-veneer church, weakened by the periodic flooding of adjacent Beaver Creek, was razed. In 1966, the congregation moved into a new building at 1 West Mary Street.

Erected 2021 by Virginia Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number K-84.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1865.

Location. 36° 35.818′ N, 82° 10.896′ W. Marker is in Bristol, Virginia. Marker is on Lee Street north of Cumberland Street (Virginia Route 113), on the left when traveling north. Marker is on the east side of Cumberland Square Park. Touch for map

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. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 Lee St, Bristol VA 24201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Dr. Charles Spurgeon Johnson (1893-1956) (here, next to this marker); Overmountain Patriots of the American Revolution (within shouting distance of this marker); The Crooked Road / Bristol (within shouting distance of this marker); Bristol Confederate Soldier Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Vance Klondike Derby (about 700 feet away); Bristol Union Railway Station (about 700 feet away); Bristol (about 700 feet away in Tennessee); Jimmie Rodgers (about 800 feet away in Tennessee). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bristol.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 23, 2022

2. Lee Street Baptist Church Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 182 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 11, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.