A free program Sunday in Davidson will focus on the history of black churches in the region and plans for the African-American Museum of Church History at Mt. Olive Baptist Missionary Church on Neck Road in Huntersville. The program, featuring the museum’s Pearlie Borders, begins at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, at Davidson College Presbyterian Church Congregation House, 218 Concord Road.
Ms. Borders, museum project director and member of Mt. Olive Church, will share the plans for this special museum and discuss some of the history that will be included in the museum.
During the years immediately following the Civil War, many African-American churches in the south were established by ex-slaves to create communities and worship in culturally distinct ways. Some of the African-American churches in our area, including Mt. Olive Church (est. 1868) on Neck Road in Huntersville, were founded at this time. Mt. Olive Church is currently spearheading a project to restore and convert a 1916 house across the street to be the African-American Museum of Church History. The museum will interpret the 141 year history of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church as well as the history of other African-American churches.
