During the Civil War, enslaved Black people were segregated and worshiped at the white Wake Forest Baptist Church. They decided to break away to create their own congregation which started in an "African Chapel" on the Wake Forest college grounds before moving into town.

This move to form their own church was a significant step of freedom toward taking autonomy and spiritual self-determination for the formerly enslaved community in Wake Forest

The enslaved Black people named their new church, Olive Branch Baptist Church.
Although Olive Branch Baptist Church was originally located on the campus of Wake Forest College, the congregation eventually moved their church to a property in the northeastern section of town.

In this circa 1945 photograph, Sunday school children pose with teachers, including Ellen Powell (right) and Lucy Harris (left) outside Olive Branch Baptist Church. The old building burned in 1956 and was replaced with a more modern brick structure.

Photograph sourced from Wake Forest Museum