St . Peter ’ s-San Pedro Episcopal Church ■ Salem , Massachusetts
T he congregation at St . Peter ’ s Episcopal Church predates the American Revolution and reflects several chapters in our nation ’ s history . The current building , designed by Isaiah Rogers , was built in 1833 to replace the original pre-Revolution church building . The original land where the church sits was given to the congregation by Salem ’ s wealthiest merchant , Philip English , who was accused in the 1692 Witch Trials and narrowly escaped with his life .
In 2008 , St . Peter ’ s combined with a Latino congregation that had been evicted from its previous building . Overnight , the parish was transformed : members of St . Peter ’ s were prompted to reckon with the role that racism and privilege plays in their community and how they could become more inclusive and welcoming . The parish now refers to itself as St . Peter ’ s – San Pedro to reflect its bilingualism and shared leadership . As immigration from Central and South America has increased over the last 30 years , many faith communities are learning how best to welcome new arrivals and meet the needs of immigrant communities who often face challenges and discrimination .
Photo : Bruce Christopher
First Bryan Baptist Church ■ Savannah , Georgia
I n 1788 , Andrew Bryan , an enslaved man who purchased his freedom , created a congregation of formerly enslaved people seeking a community of worship . In 1793 , Bryan purchased a parcel of land in the Middle Oglethorpe Ward of Savannah . This is where the current church building , which was erected in 1873 and designed by civil engineer John B . Hogg , stands . It is the oldest parcel of real estate continuously owned by African Americans in the United States .
First Bryan Baptist Church is an integral part of the Yamacraw Village neighborhood and is immediately adjacent to a historic public-housing complex bearing the same name . The complex is slated to be demolished this year , and members of the church are leading efforts to oppose the demolition . As neighborhoods across Savannah face ongoing gentrification and displacement , First Bryan stands out as an advocate for inclusive development and people-centered historic preservation .
Despite weathering many changes over time , all of the congregations admitted into the National Fund share a high level of resilience and adaptability . They are able to meet challenges when they arise and adopt new ways of serving their communities as they evolve . It is one of the oldest parcels of real estate continuously owned by African Americans in the United States .
Photo : Historic First Bryan Baptist Church
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