In 1863, the 800 African American members of the Charlottesville Baptist Church petitioned for, and were granted approval to separate from the church and form their own congregations. From this group, two congregations were formed: The Delevan (First) Baptist Church in 1864 and the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in 1867.

Since some African American members were still disgruntled about the mandate for a white minister to present, the Mount Zion congregation assumed the payments on a lot on Ridge Street which the Delevan Congregation had contracted to purchase before buying the old Delevan Hotel. Thus, Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church was organized.

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