Large crowd visits black church exhibit

Nearly two dozen black church histories are displayed on panels in The Arts Center’s Morin gallery in an exhibit that highlights the religious, social and cultural centerpieces of the rural African American community—its churches. The histories of 23 local churches are now preserved in booklet and electronic form thanks largely to OCAAHS President Ruth Mallory Long who spearheaded the project.

“I’m delighted with the turnout,” Long said after the program. “Hopefully, this will stimulate our churches to preserve their history and share it with the younger generations.”

Fittingly, the event had the feel of a church service—albeit in the classroom section of The Arts Center—as the Shady Grove Fifth Sunday Singers provided inspirational music, and many of those in attendance were dressed in their Sunday finest. In her opening remarks, Long noted that she was wearing a hat from Shady Grove Baptist Church, an outfit from Little Zion Baptist Church and gloves from her mother whose home church was Calvary Seventh Day Adventist in Gordonsville, in an effort to pay homage to the theme of the event.

Of the 23 black churches in the county, representatives from 12 were in attendance for the unveiling of Sunday’s exhibit, including Pilgrim Baptist, Shady Grove, Blue Run, Little Zion, Hopewell Baptist, Mt. Pleasant Baptist, two different Bethel Baptists, Calvary Seventh Day Adventist, Mt. Olive Baptist, Mt. Calvary Baptist and Nazareth Baptist.

OCAAHS Vice President Donald Brooks encouraged the churches to continue to preserve their histories so they don’t get lost. “It allows us to reflect on what’s happened and what’s going to happen,” he said. “If we don’t compile things we tend to lose things.”

He cited the importance of honoring and remembering those who had the opportunity years ago to form their own churches. “It is history. It is our history and they can’t change that history,” he added.

In closing, Pastor Jack McCrary, Jr. of Calvary Seventh Day Adventist, charged those in attendance with sharing the church histories with young people to help further the churches and their histories.

Following McCrary’s benediction, those in attendance filtered into the gallery to learn the histories of their friends and neighbors as the music of the Fifth Sunday Singers resonated throughout the gallery.

The exhibit is free and will remain up until Feb. 25. The Arts Center In Orange located at 129 East Main Street, and is open Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.