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The Baptist Heritage and Arts Center
The Baptist Heritage and Arts Center will serve as a vibrant cultural, spiritual, and educational hub rooted in the rich legacy of African American Baptist faith and leadership in Mississippi. Located on the historic grounds of Natchez College, this project seeks to restore and revitalize the T.J. Huddleston Memorial Chapel and the Women’s Auxiliary Building, the only two surviving structures of the once-thriving institution founded by the General Missionary Baptist State Convention of Mississippi in 1884.
Vision and Purpose
The Baptist Heritage and Arts Center will fulfill three key roles:
Interpretive Faith History: Share the profound story of the Black Baptist tradition in Mississippi—its spiritual resilience, leadership in civil rights, and lasting impact on education and community life.
Cultural Celebration Through the Arts: Provide space for exhibitions, performances, and creative expressions that highlight the African American experience in the region, fostering community pride and intergenerational engagement.
Historic Preservation: Conserve and repurpose the T.J. Huddleston Memorial Chapel and the Women’s Auxiliary Building as anchors of cultural memory, ensuring that the legacy of Natchez College and its contributions to Black higher education endure.
Restoration Plan and Funding Needs
A comprehensive restoration plan—developed in consultation with historic preservation specialists and community stakeholders—has been prepared to stabilize, restore, and adaptively reuse both buildings. The scope includes structural repairs, accessibility improvements, modern utilities, and interior renovations tailored for exhibitions, programming, and events.
Women’s Auxiliary Building Restoration Projected Cost: $6.5 million
TJ Huddleston Memorial Chapel Restoration Projected Costs: $1.9 million
Campus development: $4.85 million
This investment will:
Protect and activate two historic landmarks;
Stimulate local economic development through tourism and cultural programming;
Offer a lasting platform for education, reflection, and artistic innovation.
Call to Action
We are inviting funding agencies, philanthropic organizations, and public partners to join us in this transformative project. Together, we can safeguard a vital chapter of American history, celebrate a living faith tradition, and inspire future generations through heritage and the arts.
For more information or to become a funding partner, please contact the GMBSC office at 601.672.2177.
Resources:
‘Part Mystery, Part Miracle’: Contract signing first step in new Baptist Heritage Center
Natchez College to benefit from Lilly Endowment Grant