Churches

African-American
Churches

picture taken by J. Crandell in 2004

African Methodist Episcopal Church, Galesburg

This church structure is on Tompkins street between Cherry and Prairie streets. It is a good frame building 40 by 60 feet, with main audience room above and lecture room in basement. It was erected in 1876 at a cost of $4,000. Rev. J. W. Malone is the present pastor. (History of Knox County, by C. C. Chapman, 1878, page 608, submitted by J. Crandell)

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Church News
(Galesburg's Weekly Republican Register, Saturday, June 4, 1881, contributed by J. Crandell)

The African M. E. church gave a May party Tuesday evening, in the hall over the Plunder Store, for the benefit of the salary of the pastor, Mr. Perkins. Miss Cora Shellman was crowned Queen of May. The remainder of the programme consisted of recitations, dialogues and singing.

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picture taken by J. Crandell in 2004

Second Baptist Church

This congregation is composed of colored people, and was organized in 1865, by A. W. Jackson. The church edifice, which stands on the corner of South and Cherry streets, is a good frame building and cost several thousand dollars. The present value of church property is about $10,000. Present pastor is Rev. J. C. Graves, who has been with the church for 10 years. The present membership number 89. The average salary of pastor is $500; $700 are raised annually for all church purposes. In the Sunday school are 48 scholars.(History of Knox County, by C. C. Chapman, 1878, page 617, submitted by J. Crandell)

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To Celebrate
(Galesburg's Weekly Republican Register, Saturday, September 10, 1887, contributed by J. Crandell)

The members of the Second Baptist and A. M. E. churches are making preparations to hold a union celebration on the 22nd of September, a day dear to the heart of every colored man. The celebration will be simple in character. During the day there will be a picnic at Highland Park, something after the fashion of a barbecue. In the evening there will be public services in the Academy of Music, to attend which a general invitation is extended. An invitation to deliver an oration has been given to Mr. W. F. Bailey. Another of the speakers will be Rev. DeBaptist, the new pastor of the Second Baptist church, and one of the oldest and best known colored ministers in the State. The colored people finally decided that it would cost too much to go away from home to celebrate.

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