Henry Adams (pastor)

Henry Adams (December 17, 1802 – November 3, 1872) was a Baptist pastor and leader in the black community in 19th century Kentucky. He was born to free parents in Franklin County, Georgia and became ordained at age 23.[1] He preached throughout the Deep South before moving to Louisville, Kentucky in 1829, where he became minister to black members of First Baptist Church.[1]

In 1842, his 45-member congregation eventually withdrew to form First African Baptist Church, which was later renamed Fifth Street Baptist Church.[1] It was the second black Baptist church in the state. He remained pastor of the congregation until his retirement in 1871.[1]

Adams was self-educated and became a respected biblical scholar, and led the black Baptist community in Louisville for decades.[1] Adams stressed that church-related education and self-help was the key to improvement of the situation of blacks in America.[1] He organized black congregations during the Civil War and served as moderator of the General Association of Colored Baptists.[1]

Later in life he led a movement that culminated in the founding of Kentucky Normal and Theological Institute (later Simmons University) in 1879.[1]

He married Margaret Corbin in 1842 and they had five children.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Lucas, p. 2–3

Further reading