ALTON, Ill. – A lot of the souls of black folks found solace in the churchhouse during and after slavery. In Alton, Illinois, Union Baptist Church is one of the oldest black churches in Illinois. Ten former slaves formed it in 1836, which is 188 years ago.
The church is at 320 East 7th Street. Free black people and former slaves arrived in Alton by way of the underground railroad. Legend has it that a family didn’t like how they were treated at First Baptist Church of upper Alton during times of tension.
The first and only black ordained minister in Illinois, Rev. John Livingston, stepped in to help form a black church. After beginning with meetings, the African Baptist Church was started in 1837, with Rev. Livingston as the first pastor.
The first church was a two-story building built in 1854 on 7th and George. It also housed the first black school downstairs. They had to sell the property in the 1870’s, but they kept meeting in homes until Alton Mayor Edmund Beall gave them land to open the church again in 1902.
Members are passionate about preserving the history that began with a group of believers on a quest for peace, faith, and freedom.