Second African Baptist Church (Savannah, Ga.)

Second African Baptist Church, Savannah, Georgia was founded in 1802 by members of the First Colored Church (now the First Arican Baptist Church of Savannah). In the early years of the nineteenth century, the Savannah River Association, an organization of Baptist churches composed of one black and two white churches, including the First Colored Church, decided to strengthen the Association by organizing two additional black churches out of the membership of the First Colored Church. The two black churches which were formed were Second Colored Church and the Ogeechee Baptist Church.

Two African-American ministers were ordained to serve the new churches. Reverend Henry Cunningham, a former slave, became the first pastor of Second Baptist Church, serving from 1802 to 1833. Many members who were slaves followed the example of their pastor and later purchased their freedom. After its founding, Second Colored Church continued to have a close relationship with the First Colored Church. Following the death of Andrew Bryan, the second pastor of the First Colored Church, Second Colored Church furnished, in regular succession, pastors for the First Colored or mother Church from 1812 to 1846.

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