Liberty Baptist Church

Built in 1880 on the corner of Oak Street and 7th Street in downtown Evansville. In 1886 a tornado destroyed the church, but they rebuilt it, and it was completed in 1887. In 1959, they decided to add an education wing to the church. The church has a Gothic style and provides services to former slaves in the Evansville area. Liberty Baptist is the oldest black congregation in Evansville.

Around 1870, the African American population was growing in the Evansville area due to former slaves crossing the Ohio River. These former slaves were looking for a better life for themselves and their families. Liberty Baptist Church was the first church to provide religious services to the African American population.

The Liberty Baptist Church was in the downtown Evansville area which was the primary moving spot for previously enslaved people. Due to growing African American population in the area and the need for churches, the area surrounding the Liberty Baptist Church became known as Baptisttown. Baptisttown started to thrive as they built their own schools, churches, clubs, hospitals and stores.

Baptisttown residents built their own churches and schools in search of a better life. The Gothic style church was built in 1865 but was then destroyed by a tornado in 1886. The people in this community decided to rebuild the church and it still stands today.

Liberty Baptist provided former slaves with leadership in the religious, social and political life of Evansville's black community. Liberty Baptist also sponsored apartments for the black community right next to the church. These 54 unit complex apartments are called Liberty Terrace and were completed in the early 1980s. These apartments were set up for the elderly and handicap people.

"Baptisttown Historic District." National Register of Historic Places. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://in.gov/dnr/historic-preservation/files/hp-Baptisttown-Historic-District.pdf.

“Binding Us Fast – Evansville Living Magazine.” 2010. Web Publisher PRO. https://www.evansvilleliving.com/binding-us-fast/.

“Liberty Baptist.” n.d. Historic Evansville. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://historicevansville.com/site.php?id=libertybaptist