African-American Churches Started in 1860s

Bethel Baptist (1913-1975) on Mills Ave. in Brevard

Early African-Americans in Transylvania County attended church at Cathey’s Creek Baptist or other white churches in the area.  As slaves, they were not allowed to take part in the service but had to sit in the back and care for the children of their owners.  

Once African-Americans received their freedom they started their own churches.  The first African –American church in Transylvania County was Bethel Baptist founded in 1865.  The church got its start in a small one-room house in Brevard.  For several years they moved around to various facilities before purchasing property from Frank Jenkins between the railroad tracks and Mills Avenue in 1901.  In 1913 they once again relocated, this time to the other side of Mills Avenue to be further from the noise of the railroad.  Here they built a traditional wooden white church that served as their home until 1975 when the current brick church was constructed.

New French Broad Baptist Church
off Everett Farm Rd. in the Little River area.

In the Little River area French Broad Baptist Church was organized in 1866.  Members first met in a blacksmith shop.  The congregation built a small church but it was destroyed by fire within a year.  After that they held services in the schoolhouse deeded to them by Mr. Allison while they erected a new church.  Around 1910 heavy snows caused the collapse of the church roof.  Once again the congregation rebuilt.

Some members of the French Broad Church who lived in the Glade Creek area decided to form their own church at that time.   For several years they held services in the Glade Creek School until they were able to buy property and construct a church of their own in 1913.  The two congregations have maintained a strong bond through the years.

Other early African-American churches include Shady Grove which was organized around 1868, Mills Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Zion formed in 1896, The Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God organized in 1919 and Bethel “A” Baptist which split from Bethel Baptist in 1919. 

The Shady Grove Church was located in the Cathey’s Creek area west of Brevard.  The other three churches were all located in the Rosenwald Community.  Bethel “A” Baptist remains an active church today.

There are also several African-American cemeteries dating to the mid-to-late 1800s located in Transylvania County.  Bailey’s Cemetery, off West Probart St., has a couple dozen graves.  Cooper’s Cemetery, off Country Club Rd., contains close to 200 graves.  There is a cemetery on Buena Vista Dr. where the old Shady Grove Church was located with numerous unmarked graves and a few marked stones.  There is also a cemetery at the New French Broad Baptist Church.  In addition a number of early African-American Transylvania County residents are buried at Cathey’s Creek and Davidson River Cemeteries.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library.  Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs.  For more information, comments or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-3151 X242.