Our Legacy: Mt. Tabor church celebrating 150 years

It was 150 years ago when Stephen Beard, Daniel Duvall, Thomas R. Beard, Absolom Anderson, John Beard, John Jacob, Benjamin Lusby, Richard Cookey and James Cadle signed a deed of indenture to "erect and build or cause to be erected and built a house of worship for the use of the colored members of the Methodist Episcopal Church …"

These men where white members of Mt. Tabor Methodist Episcopal Church and trustees, of the new African meeting house to be built. The land was given by William Turton, a plantation owner and slave holder. Turton was a contemporary of other plantation owners in the area like the...