Sunday, October 24, 2010

Church Record Sunday - The Singing so Beautiful

Union Church Presbyterian Church of Jefferson County, Mississippi, was organized in 1817. The main building was built during the 1850s.

Church services were held once a month. On that Sunday two services were held, one for the whites and later in the afternoon one was held for the slaves. The singing of the slaves was said to be so beautiful that the people of the village would come outside to hear the singing.

Descendants of those singers married into my family and they continue the tradition of gospel singing.
The Jonestown Crusaders Gospel Group
Seated: Nathaniel Johnson, Jr., and Nathaniel Johnson, Sr.
Standing: Joe Johnson and Philip Johnson

The senior Nathaniel's 1st cousin twice removed Atty Whalum, an infant slave, was baptized 17 May 1840, at Union Church Presbyterian Church.

5 comments:

Carol said...

Oh, what a rich and wonderful heritage! Thanks for sharing it.

LindaRe said...

Thanks Carol, you never know where genealogy research will lead.

Professor Dru said...

This is wonderful. I love church history. I have something similar called Sacred Sunday, http://findyourfolks.blogspot.com/2010/10/sacred-sunday-when-church-rocks.html.

LindaRe said...

Professor Dru, I also love church history, connecting the past with the present. Thank you for stopping by.

Kristin said...

wow! just reading all the record. this is great info.