african american churches in newton county, mississippi
Foundations of Faith, Freedom, and Community
And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18
Worship Before Emancipation
Before the end of slavery and the Civil War, Black worship in Mississippi existed under strict control. Enslaved African Americans generally attended the churches of their enslavers, sitting in segregated galleries, corners, or balconies. In a few rare cases, enslaved people were permitted to hold separate services—but always under white supervision.
In some Mississippi counties, free Black people managed to establish their own church buildings before the war. Even then, their congregations remained under the authority of white pastors who monitored sermons, membership, and activities.1
Bethel Baptist Church and the Chapman Plantation
One of the clearest examples of pre-emancipation religious life in Newton County comes from the Chapman plantation. In 1866, formerly enslaved people from the Edward Edwards Chapman estate attended services at Bethel Baptist Church, worshipping in a segregated section.
Mary Chapman, daughter of Richard “Dick” Chapman and Lucy Thompson Chapman—and later a charter member of Altare M.B. Church—recalled her experiences in a 1960 interview with The Newton Record. She remembered how both enslaved and white congregants were preached to by Rev. Shelby King, who pastored Bethel from 1866 to 1872.2 She recounted how the slaves had to sit in a separate section of the church while the preacher preached.
A Separation Destined to Come
After emancipation, freed Blacks gradually left white churches to form their own congregations. Many white citizens supported this transition—partly out of goodwill, but also from a desire to maintain social order during Reconstruction. They donated land, materials, and assistance in organizing Sunday Schools and building church structures.3
White church members generally wanted African Americans to continue worshipping with them, but not as equals. Freedmen, however, sought independence, autonomy, and the right to define their own spiritual experience. This tension made separation both inevitable and necessary.
A major white concern during this time was social control. Fears of insurrection lingered in the post-war South, and many white leaders believed that encouraging freed people to form their own churches—while steering them toward Christian teachings emphasizing humility and non-resistance—would keep communities stable.4
Faith as Freedom: The Black Embrace of Christianity
Freed African Americans embraced Christianity with deep conviction, overwhelmingly choosing the Baptist denomination.5 They believed that wrongdoers would ultimately be judged by a higher power, and many viewed the end of the Civil War as a direct act of God.
To them, emancipation mirrored the story of Moses and the Children of Israel, with Divine intervention guiding their freedom journey. White Southerners saw the same war differently attributing Confederate defeat not to Providence, but to military mistakes made by Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton and other leaders.6
The Rise of Black Clergy in Newton County
The first Black minister recorded as preaching in Newton County was Rev. Abram Donald—a foundational figure in the spiritual awakening of newly freed communities.7 His ministry helped establish a religious tradition that would flourish across the county for generations.
Churches as Community Strongholds
Across Newton County, African American churches quickly became much more than places of worship. They served as:
- Community centers
- Schools and educational hubs
- Safe havens during racial tension
- Sites of civil rights planning and advocacy
- Social gathering spaces
- Anchors of cultural identity
Their music, teachings, and traditions nurtured resilience, unity, and hope. These congregations fostered leadership, provided mutual aid, and shaped generations of African American life in Newton County.
The legacy of these sacred spaces continues today carried forward by pastors, teachers, activists, and everyday community members who ensure that the spirit of these churches remains strong for future generations.
list of african american churches in newton county
altare m.b. church
bethel baptist church
decatur m.b. church
jerusalem m.b. church
macedonia church of god in christ
morning star m.b. church
pilgrim grove presbyterian church
pine ridge m.b. church
pleasant grove m.b. church
saint cloud m.b. church
saint john m.b. church
shiloh m.b. church
union chapel methodist church
white stone m.b. church
Sources
- The Negro in Mississippi 1865-1890, Vernon Lane Wharton, 1947, p. 256-257. ↩︎
- The Newton Record, Newton, Mississippi, Wed. August 10, 1960, p. 1.; see also https://www.nchgs.org/html/bethel_baptist_church.html ↩︎
- The Negro in Mississippi 1865-1890, Vernon Lane Wharton, 1947, p. 257-258; History of Newton County, Mississippi from 1834 to 1894, Alfred John Brown, 1894, p. 271. ↩︎
- The Negro in Mississippi 1865-1890, Vernon Lane Wharton, 1947, p. 257. ↩︎
- Ibid, p. 258. ↩︎
- Newton Weekly Ledger, Newton, Mississippi, May 02, 1872, p. 1. ↩︎
- History of Newton County, Mississippi from 1834 to 1894, Alfred John Brown, 1894, p.272. ↩︎