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For the past 150 years, Altoona's Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church has been a cornerstone of history, culture and community for not only Blair County's Black residents but for all who pass through its doors.
"We stand on the shoulders of the saints who made Mount Zion what it is today," said Mount Zion Pastor Keith Moore.
Established in 1873 when, under the leadership of the Rev. William Codville of the white First Baptist Church, the Second Baptist Church (Mount Zion) was organized by the Black members who were given letters expressly for the purpose of establishing a church, Mirror archives show.
The humble beginning of Mount Zion was a store front building located along 17th Street between 10th and 11th avenues. In 1889, property at Fifth Avenue and 22nd Street was purchased at the cost of $1,200, said Charles Dupree, a church trustee who has been attending the church for about 53 years.
The property at that time included 2121 Fifth Ave., which contained a home to be used as a parsonage. There was also a double house fronting on 22nd Street that was included in the sale. The congregation met on one side of the double house while the main church was being built, archives show.
Today, Mount Zion is Blair County's oldest Black Baptist church in continuous operation and one of the oldest in Pennsylvania.
It is Mount Zion's rich history and reputation for community outreach for which its clergy and congregation are most proud.
Dupree said that the church has come this far by faith.
"It means that we have been serving the community for 150 years. We're like a bright light and hope on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 21st Street," Dupree said.
William Lightner, an ordained deacon and a member of Mount Zion for 25 years, said that he can't imagine the number of pastors and members who have been through the church over the past 150 years.
"It's amazing, a lot of history has come through Mount Zion," Lightner said. "Even slaves came through Mount Zion."
Mount Zion was one of the stations along the Underground Railroad, Mirror records show. The church helped slaves escape to freedom by offering a shelter in the room adjacent to the choir loft. The door was hidden behind a large dresser.
"We need to continue to talk about Black history, but people don't want to talk about race relations," Lightner said. "Racism, if we're ever going to solve this problem, we're going to need to sit down and look each other in the eyes and say 'yes, this happened' and move forward."
Lightner said that they "have to wear their Blackness with pride" and to "put this history out there to learn from it," while also looking for "what we have in common."
"We've come a long way, we still have a way to go, but we've come a long way," Lightner said. "We're all in this together when it's all said and done."
Not even the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down Mount Zion, with its operations simply moving online. Members made social media accounts, upgraded their other online platforms and had church meetings through Zoom, Moore said.
"We find good in bad situations," Moore said. "The one thing now -- we don't have to close the church now even with bad weather."
In addition to regular church services, Mount Zion also has Bible study and even Lenten services through Zoom, which has brought them members from places like Ohio, Delaware, St. Louis and North Carolina.
"Over the last three weeks, eight people have joined, and we are prepared to baptize four people," Moore said. "All are welcome, our church is mixed. Be so whoever let them come, we welcome everybody, not just to visit but to join."
Off of Zoom, Dupree said that Mount Zion offers revivals, counseling, studies for clergy and various ministries and youth fellowship programs.
"Since the installation of Keith Moore, our mission is to go into the community and share God," Dupree said.
The church is very involved in community outreach, sponsoring a thrift shop, free clothing giveaway, community health fair and participating in Meals on Wheels, the local food banks, youth shelters, Blair County Community Action, the Blair County branch of the NAACP and the Central Baptist Association, according to Dupree and Moore.
The church was also the location of the initial Head Start of Blair County, which was started by the Rev. Charles Hickerson and his wife, Delores, Mirror archives show.
"What we try to do is try to be there first for those who are unsaved and show that God loves them," Moore said.
To celebrate their 150 year anniversary, the church will be holding a two-day celebration on Sept. 16 and 17, a Saturday and Sunday, the specifics of which will be announced "in the near future," Dupree said.
"We're very excited about this anniversary," he said.
Moore said that there will be a dinner at the Casino at Lakemont Park and then a big celebration at the 11 a.m. service Sunday, Sept. 17.
Mount Zion is currently raising money for its own upkeep, such as getting a new roof and has a donation button on its website for anyone interested in contributing. It will also be putting out a 150th Anniversary Booklet, for which ads can be purchased, Moore said.
"Anyone can be a blessing to us," he said.
Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor is at 814-946-7458.