Celebrating the Roots of Third Baptist Church and Founder Eliza Davis
As we celebrate the remarkable legacy of Third Baptist Church, we honor the spirit of its founder, Eliza Davis, who would have turned 234 years old this past October 12th. Established in 1852, Third Baptist Church holds the distinction of being the oldest predominately African American church in the Western United States. Through over 170 years of faith, service, and social justice, Third Baptist has served as a beacon of hope and strength for generations. This legacy of resilience, rooted in Eliza Davis’s vision and spirit, has shaped not only the church but also the larger community. At a time when the importance of female leadership is recognized around the globe, the church’s foundation—built on the strength of a woman who overcame enormous odds—reminds us of the transformative power of female vision and entrepreneurship.
The Life and Legacy of Eliza Davis: From Slavery to Leadership
Eliza Davis's life was a testament to resilience and determination. Born on October 12, 1790, in Albemarle County, Virginia, Davis was a woman who lived through more than a century of American history. She bore witness to sweeping changes, from the days when steamboats had yet to navigate the rivers of St. Louis to the era of California's Gold Rush and into the dawn of the modern world. As a mixed-race woman born into slavery, her early years were marked by struggle and survival. From a young age, she faced hardships, yet she held onto her strength and her faith.
Through sheer tenacity, Eliza, alongside her husband, Russell Davis, made the journey to California in 1852. Her journey to freedom and her determination to lead is reminiscent of another towering figure of her time—Sojourner Truth. Truth, in her famous speech "Ain't I a Woman?", questioned society's limited view of women's strength and value. Like Truth, Davis carved her own path in a world that sought to limit her. In a time and place where few African American women held positions of influence, Eliza Davis broke through barriers, founding Third Baptist Church and establishing it as a spiritual and communal sanctuary. Her life embodied resilience, adaptability, and a fierce commitment to her beliefs—qualities that laid a strong foundation for the church she would lead.
Third Baptist Church: A Legacy of Service and Social Justice
From its inception, Third Baptist Church was a place of worship, a pillar of support for the community, a force for justice, and a symbol of unity. Under Eliza Davis’s leadership, the church grew to become a place where people from all walks of life could gather, find solace, community, safety, and fight for justice. For 172 years, the church has been at the forefront of human rights initiatives, continually responding to the needs of its community. Today, Third Baptist Church is a testament to that legacy. The church’s ministries are deeply rooted in service and advocacy, addressing issues of inequality, education, and social welfare. Through over 20 active ministries, Third Baptist provides support to the community in countless ways, from youth education programs to social justice initiatives that continue to confront inequality and oppression. This focus on service and justice has been the lifeblood of the church, sustaining it through turbulent times and keeping it relevant and vital to each new generation.
A Call for Female Leadership
Eliza Davis’s legacy is a reminder of the importance of female leadership and the value that women bring to positions of influence. Her role as the founder and leader of Third Baptist Church demonstrates the impact that women can have when they are given the space and support to lead. Today, as we reflect on Davis’s accomplishments, we see a call to action for the broader world to embrace female leadership and entrepreneurship.
Around the world, we see an increasing recognition of the need to invest in female leadership. Women bring unique perspectives and strengths to leadership roles, often focusing on community building, inclusivity, and empathy—qualities that are essential in today’s complex world. Eliza Davis’s story serves as a powerful example of how one woman’s leadership can create lasting change. In celebrating her legacy, we are reminded that investing in female leaders is not just about fairness; it is about enriching our institutions and our communities.
Carrying the Torch: Third Baptist Church Today
Today, Third Baptist Church continues to build upon the foundation that Eliza Davis established. The church’s current leadership remains committed to the principles of social justice, service, and faith that have guided it for over a century and a half. Third Baptist already, by 1996, had ordained nearly 20 female deacons, and since its founding, has established interfaith collaborations and programs such as Back on Track, founded in 1988 as an interfaith collaborative effort between Third Baptist Church and Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco. The unique partnership has crossed religious and cultural differences to build bridges of opportunity for K-12 students. As a non-denominational community-based program, Back on Track has served more than 2,000 young people from diverse, multicultural populations throughout San Francisco, bounded by intelligence and a desire to succeed academically.
Third Baptist leadership has extended its impact beyond the local community, supporting global initiatives such as the Ethiopian Resettlement Project, the Somali Relief Effort, and even heart surgeries for Tanzanian children. By reaching out to communities in need worldwide, Third Baptist has become a force for good that stretches beyond San Francisco, embodying the values of compassion and justice that Eliza Davis held dear.
In addition to our global outreach, the church has continued to foster strong community connections through partnerships with organizations like the NAACP and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Together, they have sponsored cultural exchanges, educational opportunities, and historical programs, most recently supporting a second delegation of students traveling to Accra, Ghana. These initiatives reflect the church’s commitment both to local and global communities, embracing a vision of inclusivity and service that Davis would have been proud to see.
The Enduring Spirit of Joy and Faith
At the heart of Third Baptist Church’s work is a spirit of joy and faith that has sustained it through the ages. This joy, deeply rooted in the teachings of Jesus, is a powerful testament to the church’s enduring legacy. For 172 years, the church has embraced joy as a guiding principle to inspire hope, motivate action, and bring people together. As Eliza Davis once trusted in her faith to carry her through life’s hardships, so too does the church continue to draw strength from this joy, sharing it with all who enter its doors.
Today, as Third Baptist continues to grow and evolve, it does so with a deep sense of gratitude for the journey that has brought it here. This joy is not just a feeling; it is a testimony to the faith, resilience, and community that have defined the church since its founding. As we move forward, we give thanks for this journey and for the legacy of Eliza Davis, whose vision and courage laid the groundwork for all that Third Baptist Church has become.