Saratoga-Street African Baptist Church,
Baltimore
It is known to our readers, that this church has been for some time in existence, under the
pastoral care of brother Noah Davis, an excellent colored minister, and formerly a resident of
Fredericksburg. It was our privilege recently to meet with this little body of disciples, and to join
with them in commemorating the dying love of Christ at His table. They are growing in number
and efficiency.
The most interesting fact, however, in connection with the history of this church, is the
erection of a large, well located, and convenient edifice, for purposes connected with the
improvement of the colored people of Baltimore. This building extends one hundred feet on
Saratoga street and 46 feet respectively on Calvert and Davis streets. The project was originated
by our esteemed brother, William Crane, formerly of this city, but now of Baltimore. It is,
however, not to be regarded as his individual enterprise. The lot was purchased by him, and he
simply retains the right to the cellar and first story, which will be occupied for mercantile
puiposes, while the remainder of the building has been deeded to trustees for the purposes above
named. The second story, a large and beautiful room, will be used by the church as their
assembly room, the third and fourth stories will be used for school rooms for educational
purposes. The trustees, in their appeal for means to complete the house say:
It is hoped that the proposed Chapel and School Rooms may furnish a respectable, central,
commodious place for Sunday schools and for religious worship; and with a flight of stairs at each end,
may provide accommodations in the upper stories for a male high school at one end, and a female high
school at the other - and a prominent and most desirable object in connection with it, is to improve the
education of colored pious young men, and women too, for missionary employment in Africa.
Experience seems to have hilly taught us, that colored educated missionaries must be our main
dependence in African evangelization.
We have always believed that the truest friends of the colored race are found at the South,
and this endeavor to prepare men for efficient missionary work in Africa, will find sympathy
with our brethren generally.
T.
Home and Foreign Journal
December 1854
p. 23
