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The first members of this historically African American Church congregated from the Beulah community and the South Sycamore area in the 1870s, often holding prayer meetings and church services under an arbor on the land of Jimmy and Moriah Nixon. In the early 1880s, Mount Moriah Baptist Church was erected, named in honor of one of the founding members, Moriah Nixon. Rev. Burgess was the first pastor for the newly organized congregation. Although the original church was destroyed by a tornado on January 4, 1946, a new structure was built in its place where it has continued to serve the area. The church mission auxiliary was established in 1937 under the leadership of the Reverend W. A. Alexander, who was the longest-serving pastor of the church for 33 years (1914-47). Reverend G. H. Wilson served for 22 years (1947-69), and during his term in 1951 the mission formed Star Light Band (renamed Youth Mission) to address the spiritual training of young people within the community. A school built next to the church taught grades one through eight, with a curriculum focused on basic reading, writing and arithmetic. Hattie Jamerson, a Mt. Moriah church member, and John Henry Sims, who lived in the community, helped establish henry high school within the Elkhart Independent School District in 1938 to serve African American students in grades seven through twelve. Several church members have served in Sunday school, church choir, youth mission and other ministries for many years. Descendants of early members still worship here, continuing the legacy that the early families left for future generations. |
