Founded in April 1873, this was the first African American congregation formed on the east side of the Mississippi River in the Minneapolis area. It held meetings in the Tremont House under the leadership of R. Hickman. The congregation was reorganized a decade later, holding meetings in a rented space in the Centennial Building (Minneapolis Tribune, 18 April 1873; Minneapolis Journal, 8 Nov 1883).
There is a gap of a few years in the historical record, but a headline in the Minneapolis Tribune dated May 20, 1889, proclaims “Laying A Stone: Services at the Dedication of the Zion Baptist Church.” It goes on to report “Yesterday was a great day in the history of this city and St. Paul. The occasion was no less important than the dedication and laying of the corner stone of the Zion Baptist Church, corner of Fillmore and Spring Streets Northeast.” The location is a bit surprising, but as the reporter observed: “The throng which had assembled to witness the celebration embraced nearly every nationality known to the Northwest.” All was not smooth sailing, however, for the small congregation that had sixteen members in 1889. Shortly after the completed building was dedicated in spring 1890, a dispute regarding the pastor and contested ownership of the church property arose. The dispute was reported on widely in the press and ultimately resolved, but in February 25, 1891, the building was sold at a sheriff’s auction, apparently as the congregation was in arrears on the mortgage. C. A. Smith and John S. Pillsbury purchased the building for $411.38. It is unclear what the buyers intended to do with the building. The newspaper announced on January 23, 1892 that the congregation had disbanded (Minneapolis Tribune Jan 23, 1892).