Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church
Also known as: VDHR No. 127-472; See Also:Jackson Ward Historic District
.jpg){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church is a brick Gothic-style church at 14 West Duval Street in Richmond's Jackson Ward neighborhood. The congregation was organized in 1867 by the Reverend John Jasper, a celebrated preacher best known for his sermon "De Sun Do Move." The core of the present building went up in 1887, built by African-American builder George Boyd. In 1925, architect Charles T. Russell and builder I. Lincoln Bailey refaced it in dark brick and limestone, added an off-center bell tower, a rear wing, and the Jasper Memorial Education Annex. The sanctuary seats 1,500 and keeps its carved oak pews and pulpit from 1887 along with a collection of early 20th-century art glass. A museum honoring Jasper opened in the lower level in 1926. The church survived the construction of Interstate 95 in the 1950s and now stands beside the highway as a landmark. It is significant for its religious and African-American heritage, its association with Jasper, and its architecture.
Significance in brief: It is the most visible reminder of the Reverend John Jasper, a famed African-American preacher who founded the congregation in 1867 and gave the "De Sun Do Move" sermon. It also represents the work of African-American builder George Boyd and of architect Charles T. Russell with builder I. Lincoln Bailey. The church is notable for its large sanctuary, early 20th-century art glass, and a church museum opened in 1926.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 96001445, listed December 16, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 14 W. Duval St., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | December 16, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96001445 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1867-1940 |
| Architect / builder | Charles T. Russell, Architect; George Boyd, Builder; I. Lincoln Bailey, Builder |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Twentieth Century Revivals: Late Gothic Revival (described in the text as Norman Gothic) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Religion, Black, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a religious facility; houses the John Jasper Memorial Room museum and a church archives. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Within district | James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.55061, -77.43825 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 96001445.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16900242
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.