Funds needed to preserve historical structure

A group is trying to raise funds to refurbish the first African American church in Lawrence County.

“It was one of the first Black churches, period,” said Cal Vinson, who is heading up an effort to get the Macedonia Baptist Church restored. In fact, it was called the Mother Church, because it helped establish other churches in Ironton, Burlington, Ashland, Huntington and other places.

He said that the Macedonia Baptist Church was first built near Burlington in 1850. After 167 years, the building is in desperate need of repair. It was last used about 10 years ago.

“We are trying to raise $400-500,000. We need $10,000 in seed money to get an evaluation,” he said. “This church is nearly falling down.”

To do that, a 501(c)(3) was established for the church to preserve the history of black people in Lawrence and Gallia counties. The church was a stop on the Underground Railroad for Virginia slaves escaping to the North.

“We are going to apply for grants,” Vinson said. “But we have to prove how (the restoration) would serve the community.”

He said the reason that it is important is because not many people know or remember the church that was a vital part of Lawrence County’s black history.

“The people that came and settled here, they had no money and couldn’t read or write,” Vinson said. “So George Hall gave them enough space to build the first school.”

He said most of them were farmers who lived in dirt floor huts or house but sent their kids to the school to get an education. Most of those kids walked away to seek better prospects.

Vinson said he wants the story to be remembered.

“These people did do better, but they paid a price to do better,” he said. “But they enjoyed it. The people who went to this church enjoyed it but the church just dwindled down to nothing.”

Vinson said the church was nearly inaccessible for its first 60 years and people had to walk or ride a horse to attend church or school.

Vinson said when he was young, he walked six miles to get to the church on the hill.

“But that was another time,” he said. Eventually, a government project put a road nearby but it only came within 200 yards of the church.

The church was also used as a school after the Macedonia school burned down in 1945, most likely as a result of arson since the school didn’t have any electricity and the school was out for Christmas break.

“For me, this is a big thing because I am about the only one left who went there,” the 82-year-old Vinson said.

The goal is to reclaim the building so there is a reminder of those who came before, since most of the houses and huts from that time are gone.

The Macedonia Baptist Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 because of its architecture and its importance in local history.

For more information, call Vinson at 304-539-1300.