• Second Baptist Church. Oxford, MS. Date and Photographer Unknown.

Part I: List of Historic African-American Churches in Lafayette County

Clear Creek Baptist

Toby Tubby Baptist

Jumpers Chapel CME

Cypress Grove Baptist

Union Hill Baptist

Providence United Methodist

East Saint Peter Baptist

West Spring Hill Baptist

St. Paul, CME

Flint Hill Baptist

Jefferson Baptist

Salem United Methodist

Greater Saint John Baptist

Way of Holiness Church of God

St. Peter's United Methodist

Harrisonville Baptist in Christ

Bethlehem CME

New Hope Baptist

Smith Methodist Episcopal

Galilee CME

North Hopewell Baptist

Beverly Chapel Church of God in Christ

Springfield Baptist

Buford Methodist Episcopal

Lighthouse Church of Christ

Third Baptist

Jesus Christ Congregational

True Bible Way

Church of Christ (Rivers Hill)

Tolby Primitive Baptist

Clear Springs Baptist

Rock Hill

Part II: History, Second Missionary Baptist Church

• Second Missionary Baptist Church

The Second Missionary Baptist Church was founded in 1869 by the Reverend Ned Johnson. Before this time Christian slaves often attended the churches of their masters. The nucleus of Second Baptist began with both Baptist and Methodist ex-slaves building a brush arbor at the lower edge of the 'Old Pegues Estate,' now known as Amma Delle Subdivision. A group of women transferred their membership from the white Baptist church to the new church: Jane Wilburn, Jane Dickens, Eliza Brown, Vinna Thompson, Matilda Ivy Sanders, Betty McCloud, Polly Avant, and Martha Butler. Henry Woods, a noted slave fiddler assisted this band of women and served as custodian.

In 1873, this group used the back of the First Baptist Church for Sunday evening services. In April of that same year, the group purchased the present day site for the sum of $50.00. Many contributions toward the construction of Second Baptist (Colored Baptist Church of Oxford) came from the white Baptist church members. Reverend Ned Johnson continued to serve as pastor.

Reverend H. W. Bowen from Macon became the first black teacher founding a school at the church. The first students included Callie Coleman Johnson, Mrs. Macon Taylor, and Jo Anna Isom.

Part III: History, Burns Methodist Church

• Burns Belfry Church. Photo by Robert Jordan.

Burns Methodist Church was organized in 1870. The original church was white frame with a light blue ceiling. In 1910, a new church was constructed on Depot Street (Jackson Avenue) through loans by members and donations of time to mix mortar and carry brick. The ladies brought dinner baskets to the working men.

The church had a bell in the belfry and a foot-pedal organ. Two larger pot-bellied stoves provided heat. The Ladies Aid cared for the brass kerosene lamps hanging from ceiling chains which provided light.

Church activities included box suppers, church plays, and 'feasts in the wilderness.' Boys carried girls to church in shiny buggies drawn by horses with fancy harnesses and a decorative buggy whip. At Sunday night services, customarily, the girl held the boy's hat in her lap.

In 1975, a new church was constructed on Mollie Barr Road and Washington Avenue. -- Author Unknown

Text from Historical Marker, 2000:

• Site of Oxford's first African American church, organized by former slaves in 1869-70. First called Sewell Chapel. In 1900, the church was renamed Burns Methodist Episcopal Church. The original wooden building was replaced in 1910 by the present structure. The congregation moved to a new location in 1973.