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

African Zion Baptist Church

1852

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

1. African Zion 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 • Education • Religion & Religious Structures • 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. It 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.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Charleston Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper

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South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.

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

Other markers no longer nearby. Malden / Booker T. Washington Homeplace (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Necessary Ingredient (was about 300 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

African Zion Baptist Church and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, January 14, 2025

2. African Zion Baptist Church and Marker

African Zion Baptist Church image. Click for full size.

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

3. African Zion Baptist Church

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

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

4. National Register of Historic Places Marker on the church

Credits. This page was last revised on February 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 338 times since then and 18 times this year. Last updated on December 19, 2023, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on August 5, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on February 20, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. 3, 4. submitted on August 5, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.