Southold makes history with landmark designation for Shiloh Baptist Church

More than a century after Shiloh Baptist Church was built, Southold Town has officially designated the church a historic landmark — recognizing the building and its deep connection to the town’s Black community.

Brian Mealy, the first African American elected to the Southold Town Board, read the resolution during the board’s regular meeting, continuing the open public hearing from the Aug. 25 regular session.

“This is a monumental moment, and I’m grateful to read the resolution. … This is important history that represents all the people of the great Town of Southold,” Mr. Mealy said.

Shiloh Baptist Church was established by Black families who came to the North Fork from the South. Among those early members were the parents of Eleanor Lingo, a longtime Southold resident whose family came from Virginia. Her father, Thomas Morris, worked on a local farm and served as a deacon at the church.

The community has been seeking historic recognition for the church since 2023, but Thursday’s designation comes after more than a century of memories and community history.

“At 12 years old, I still remember my spiritual journey at Shiloh Baptist Church,” Rev. Dr. Linda Cosby Johnson said. “When I heard about what was going on with Shiloh, it brought me back to when I accepted Jesus Christ as my lord and savior. I thank each of you for your listening and your acknowledgment of this effort to keep Shiloh open and running again.”

The designation followed a recommendation from the Southold Town Historic Preservation Commission and acceptance by the church’s property owners, according to the resolution.

“I think everybody knows how important Shiloh Baptist Church is to the history of the town, going back to the late 1600s and the introduction of an ethnic Black population to the town, and then its continuing growth,” said David Mammina, a member of the Southold Town Historic Preservation Commission. “The construction of the church in 1921, and its continuous operation, are significant.”

Mr. Mammina described the designation as a “full-circle moment,” noting that the church had already received historic recognition from New York State.

“We’re making history,” Mr. Mealy said.