Structure believed to be part of Underground Railroad found under church

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC/Gray News) - A centuries-old church in Tennessee could potentially be the home of a newly discovered historic site.

While majorly renovating the church, Senior Pastor John White Jr. at Mount Nebo Missionary Baptist Church said they discovered a structure. He said he believes the structure was used to hide slaves.

“Slaves would follow this trail, this is a part of the Underground Railroad, I mean this building itself is a part of the tunnel system,” White said. “Yes, this church was a part of the tunnel system that was used for the Underground Railroad.”

Church leaders bought the building in the late 1930s, but it stood on Vance Avenue and Lauderdale Street nearly a century before.

Grace Episcopal Church owns the auditorium built in 1896. Pastor White said the great culture of Grace Episcopal and St. Luke Church led to their merger.

“I believe there was a genuine love for mixed culture as you see now in their congregation, I believe that possibly, they hibernated those that were en route to freedom in this box,” White said.

White said there was a lack of running water in the 1800s and a cement box found below ground that may have been used to hide escaped slaves.

“If you enter try to enter from any side with dogs, dog catchers, slave catchers, they wouldn’t be able to smell humans in a concrete box,” he said.

He also said there have been rumors of what was hidden beneath the church. The actual discovery brought him relief.

“There was freedom, thoughts of freedom, thoughts of happiness, and satisfaction and gratitude, in this room,” White said.

Earnest Wells is the contractor helping to bring life back to the building.

“When I look at the ceiling, and it reminds you of the slave ship, and I look at that, it makes me just feel so, so blessed to be where I am right now compared to what it was 100 years ago,” Wells said.

As construction continues, White said he hopes to work with historians and help bring some history into modern-day reality.

“I mean this is history here folks, Mt. Nebo, the historic Mt. Nebo Missionary Baptist Church, is on the verge of making a discovery to not only help our people, but to help our children who desperately need it the most,” White said.

White said members of his congregation have had a mixed reaction to the discovery, with some being excited and others trying to take it all in.

He said he plans to host plays and artists in the church when construction is finished.

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