Organization	Antioch Baptist Church
Category	Spiritual Centers, Landmarks
Description	An important African-American historical landmark, the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church once sat in the heart of Freedman's Town, the oldest black neighborhood in Houston. Built in 1875-1879, the congregation was founded by two white Baptist ministers and nine former slaves in 1865 upon hearing that they had been emancipated. Antioch was the first African-American Baptist church in Houston, and has played a prominent role in the local community for more than a century. In 1872, church members helped purchase the land for Emancipation Park on the corner of Dowling and Elgin so that Houston's annual Juneteenth celebrations could be held there. The original church building dates from 1875 and was remodeled extensively in the 1890s. Surrounded now by towering glass office buildings, the church is one of the few examples of Gothic Revival architecture remaining in downtown. The church was designed and constructed by Richard Allen, who was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1869, served as Houston's street commissioner in 1878, and was the first African-American to run for statewide office.
Events and Traditions	unavailable
Classes and Workshops	unavailable
Additional Information	unavailable
Web Address
Contact
Phone	713-652-0738
Email
Address	500 Clay Street Houston, TX 77001