Second Baptist Church celebrates 140 years this weekend

[March 14, 2014]  Second Baptist Church, 1728 Tremont St., will celebrate the 140thanniversary of the church this Sunday, March 16, at 3 p.m. The Rev. David Stewart and Mount Emory Baptist Church from Jacksonville will be guests for the service.

Second Baptist is one of two black churches in Lincoln. It was formed in 1874 by 10 Christians, some of whom were former slaves, who met in each other's homes for the first two years until they had enough funds to build their first structure, on Broadway Street, with land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jefferson.

Second Baptist moved to their new location on Tremont Street in 1997 with a march from the old church to the new one. The march included former Mayor John Guzzardo and other townspeople, with a police and fire truck escort for the journey to the new edifice.

Second Baptist's membership has become very diverse over the last few decades under the leadership of the current pastor, the Rev. Glenn Shelton.