CAMDEN — (Today’s Camden News African American History moment celebrates Mt. Gillard Missionary Baptist Church, the oldest African American Church in Ouachita County.)
According to documents from the African American Historical Commission: “Mt. Gillard Missionary Baptist Church was organized in a brush arbor in October 1852, under the leadership of the late Rev. Reynolds in the days of slavery. Rev Reynolds was Anglo-Saxon. A few years later, worship service was moved from the brush arbor to it’s first frame building and large lanterns were used for lighting. Mt. Gillard has the accreditation of being the ‘Mother Church of Ouachita County.
“The Ouachita District Baptist Association was first organized at Mt. Gillard. During the same time period there were no schools for African Americans in the area, so Mt. Gillard was the place used for the first school. There were only four weeks per school year.
“Mt. Gillard has been relocated three different times. In June 1946, Mt. Gillard moved to its present location. This was done under the leadership of Rev. J. Thomas of El Dorado. After several years of service he resigned. Rev. J.F. Franklin followed Thomas. Franklin was from Pine Bluff. On May 4, 1973, Mt. Gillard was torn down and the membership began making preparation to build a new edifice. The new Mt, Gillard took eight months to be constructed. During construction, services were held at Mt. Olive and Calvary Baptist Church.”