Baptist Church

I’m a fan of learning about the Underground Railroad and this is a little must see spot if you’re at all interested. I wish I would of had time to tour the facilities but it was nice to just stop and reflect, especially in a city where the history seems to be becoming more and more lost amongst the decline of the city.
I learned that Buffalo, NY was one of the last stops on the Underground Railroad. Legendary conductor, Harriet Tubman, helped slaves across the border here. The Michigan Ave. Baptist Church served as a stop on the Underground Railroad in the years prior to the Civil War. Fugitive slaves were hidden in the basement of the church before being ferried across the Niagara River to Canada in the darkness of night. Michigan Avenue ran through the heart of Buffalo’s African American community in the pre Civil War period. The congregation that would become the Michigan Baptist church began forming between 1832 to 1837. Construction of the church started in 1845 and was completed in 1846. As the sole Black institution at a time of slavery, the church served as a gathering place, a place to advocate reform, a sanctuary and a place of hope and God; for many, particularly the numerous ex slaves in the congregation, religion and the church were the strongest sustaining force in their lives.
The church has a rich history of social justice. In 1842 it adopted a statement declaring slavery immoral, provided a speaking forum for abolitionists such as Fredrick Douglas and was an Underground Railroad station. Its parishioners were similarly strong and vocal advocates of the prophetic spirit.
The Nash House is located here and was the home of Dr. J. Edward Nash, who became pastor of the church in the 1890s and remained there for 61 years helped found the Buffalo Urban League and the local branch of the NAACP.