Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church

Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church is a historic African-American Baptist church located in Richmond, Virginia. The church was founded in 1867. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.^[1]

Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Virginia Landmarks Register
Richmond City Historic District
Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church, 1978
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Location	14 W. Duval St., Richmond, Virginia
Coordinates	37°33′2″N 77°26′19″W
Area	4 acres (1.6 ha)
Built	1867 (1867), 1925
Architect	Russell, Charles T.; Boyd, George, et al.
Architectural style	Late Gothic Revival
Website	Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church
NRHP reference No.	96001445[1]
VLR No.	127-0472
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	December 16, 1996
Designated VLR	June 19, 1996[2]

History

background

The sanctuary was started in 1867 by John Jasper.^[3] The church began as a confederate horse stable which was situated on Brown's Island. The church congregation moved to 14 Duval Street in 1869, and in the 1880s a sanctuary was added by George W. Boyd.^[4]

In 1878 Jasper delivered his controversial "De Sun Do Move" (The Sun Do Move) sermon at the church.^[5]

Structure

It is a two-story, Late Gothic Revival style stuccoed brick structure. It features a large off-center tower that houses the church bell in belfry and accommodates a large stairwell to the gallery. Attached to the sanctuary is the two-level Jasper Memorial Education Annex added in 1925.^[6]

Expansion

In 1925,^[7] the church was remodeled and extended by an African American architect named Charles Thaddeus Russell.^[8]