History of the First African Baptist Church, from Its Organization, January 10th, 1788, to July 1st, 1888

Book excerpt: Love, the pastor of the First African Baptist Church in Savannah, writes this history to argue his Church's claim to be the "first African-American Baptist Church in North America." He gives a detailed report of the rise of the Church under Andrew Bryan before the split of 1832, when a majority of the members followed Andrew C. Marshall to form a new church in Franklin Square in Savannah, retaining the old name. He provides biographies of the pastors and important leaders of the new congregation, including his own administration, and concludes by giving the documents, addresses and sermons surrounding the first centennial celebration, which included the adjudication of the dispute between the two churches.