Andrew Bryan purchased this lot in 1793, making it, according to the church’s account, the nation’s oldest property continuously owned by African Americans. This location served as the First African Baptist Church until 1832 when doctrinal differences prompted a large group of members to form a new church at the current site of First African Baptist (5.3), leaving a smaller congregation at the Bryan Street location. The present building was designed by architect and city engineer Hogg and built by members of the congregation. The distyle in antis portico is similar to Hogg’s 1848–1850 design for Trinity Methodist Church (2.37). The choir loft and organ, purchased from the Independent Presbyterian Church, were added in 1945.

