Mt. Zion prepares for 150th anniversary

By Gracie Hart
Review Staff Writer
Published: October 9, 2008

Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Locust Grove is gearing up to celebrate their 150th anniversary with a program on Oct. 19.
The church was formed in 1858, seven years before the Emancipation Proclamation, when citizens of the Gordon District in Orange County gathered to praise God through prayer, song and testimony.  They formed a prayer band in the home of Maria and Peter Armstead in an area known as Peter Bottom in Lewiston. 
Along with the Armsteads, some early members of the church were the Vass, Johnson, Carter and Henderson families, most of whom still have descendants attending the church today.
The church soon moved to an outdoor area, now known as Lewiston Cemetery on Indiantown Road, which was owned by Nathan Henderson, and services were presided over by the traveling minister the Rev. Robert Woodson.
Because members walked to services, they decided to move the church closer to their homes.  In 1860, they moved from Indiantown Road to an area on Governor Almond Road.  There they built a small log cabin in which they could hold services and worship.
When a new pastor came along, the Rev. Wanzer Tibbs, he encouraged the congregation to build a larger structure and name it Mt. Zion Baptist.  The congregation agreed and a small wooden church was built within walking distance of the log cabin. 
In 1957, under the Rev. C.A. Sanford, a new church was built next door and the old one was torn down.
According to church member Paulette Taylor, daughter of Elcie Lawson who served as the church historian until her passing, the church was built with cinderblocks donated by each church family. 
That structure, for the most part, is still the one standing today.  However, as a result of time and a fire in 1996, it has been updated with vinyl siding and other architectural modifications.  The Rev. Richard Reeves is the current pastor. 
The church has also undergone changes within its’ congregation.  They recently mourned the loss of valuable elderly members including James Edward Brown, 103, Elizabeth Roberts, Ida Minor and Dorsey Brown, the three of whom were in their nineties. 
The current oldest living member is Deaconess Louise Washington, born in 1913.  According to Taylor, Washington moved to Philadelphia in her later years but still comes back to the church often.
“People who move away come back for special events like homecoming, Easter and anniversaries,” she said.  “It’s a home church.”
The church is expecting about 200 people to attend the anniversary celebration, according to Taylor, some of whom will be returning home for the event.
“We will have our regular 11 a.m. services followed by lunch and then the program at 3 p.m.,” said Taylor.
The program features the history of the church among other things and will feature Rev. Joseph Jackson from Washington, D.C. as the speaker.  Jackson is the nephew of deacon Melvin Broadus who served as the chairman of the deacon board for a number of years.
For more information on the anniversary celebration, contact the church office at 854-5575.