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St. Peter Primitive Baptist Church: detail of side entries.

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St. Peter Primitive Baptist Church: detail of side entries.

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Title	St. Peter Primitive Baptist Church: detail of side entries.
Creator(s)	West, Carroll Van, photographer
Date	2003
Coverage	2000-2009
Property name	St. Peter Primitive Baptist Church
Property type	Church
Community Name	Bessemer, Jefferson County, AL
Latitude/Longitude	33.405833,-86.952034
Description	Color photograph of a portion of the church side wall, showing the covered entry into the sanctuary at the main floor level on the right and a white entry door to the basement level on the left. Colored windows line the walls at the main floor level and balcony level. Two small plain windows illuminate the basement level.
Historical Notes	The congregation of St. Peter Primitive Baptist Church formed in 1903 and constructed its first building in 1911 at the same location as the present church. By 1943 the congregation had outgrown the original building, which was demolished to allow construction of a brick church of mid-twentieth century Gothic Revival design, creating one of the largest gathering places for African Americans in Bessemer. The expansive new sanctuary allowed the church to have an important role in the development of a capella gospel singing in the Birmingham-Bessemer area. Most notably, the Sterling Jubilee Singers are closely associated with the church . Rev. William A. Clark, who served as pastor until 1962, led the effort to construct a new church, encouraged the use of the church for gospel programs, and was a supporter of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights (ACMHR). The church was among the first to host critical meetings of ACMHR in the years 1956-58.
Collection Name	African American Churches
Subject-LCSH	African American churches Church buildings -- Alabama
Subject-TGM	Churches
Type	Still image
Format	jpeg2000
Genre	Photograph
Extent	4 x 6 in.
Copyright status	Copyright of the creator. Reproduced with permission
Conditions for use	Credit Center for Historic Preservation, Middle Tennessee State University Reproduction permitted for non-profit educational and research purposes only
Digital Publisher	Digital Initiatives, James E. Walker Library, Middle Tennessee State University
Contributing Institution	Center for Historic Preservation, Middle Tennessee State University
Source file	stpeterpb00004