First African Baptist Church: A Sacred Legacy

In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, we travel to Savannah, Georgia, to uncover the story of the First African Baptist Church — one of the oldest continuously operating Black churches in North America.

Founded in 1773 by George Liele and formally organized in 1788 under Andrew Bryan, the church stood as both a sanctuary of worship and a center of resistance. From serving as a stop on the Underground Railroad, to educating freed African Americans after emancipation, to hosting meetings during the Civil Rights Movement, its impact reaches far beyond its walls.