Dr. Sharon Amos says her interest in Black churches in Western New York came as a result of a newspaper article. In the hundreds of words, mentions of Historic Black churches? None.

So Dr. Amos decided instead of getting mad, she’d do something about it. She created a historical reflection of these Black churches that you know exist and have existed — some for 100 or more years.

From many humble beginnings, Dr. Amos and company set out to document the histories of the 200 historic Black churches in Western New York, alone.

“This was so necessary,” she said.

Because for as many of these institutions that have endured along so many corridors of the Underground Railroad in New York State, these churches have been more than houses of worship.

“[They] have housing developments where they have been a part of or initiated housing for low-income residents, credit unions, food banks -- churches provide all kinds of supplemental services,” Dr. Amos said.

And that has brought thousands of communities to different parts of the empire state over generations.

“They had succeeded in Buffalo, New York, in terms of employment, in terms of housing, in terms of all of the things necessary to have a fulfilled life,” she said.

The Michigan Street Baptist Church is housed in a building that is more than 150 years old. The legacy is even greater. 

“Very special. I guess I've never took into account how deeply rooted this history was until I was much older,” Rachel Henderson, vice chair of the Buffalo Niagara Freedom Station Coalition, said. “I was a young girl when my father took over the church. He had it many years before that, but I didn't really understand why I was so involved in history, until I understood that his vision was much you know, deeper than you know, little me could get but it's really beautiful history.”

“From being part of the Underground Railroad, and surviving through that era, and moving into, you know, a more modern era and still being able to hold services here and to be a beacon. Yes, yes. To be a beacon for the community is just absolutely amazing,” Dr. Amos said.

It’s the case for so many of these locations as Dr. Amos and countless others continue to uncover the history of churches like these and communities that continue to endure.

“So we want to, we want to say in this book, that the work that was done and is still being done is important not just for our community, but for the city or the county for the state for the world,” Dr. Amos said.

After all, churches are a place of hope and refuge.

 “Not only others, other people, but to welcome other ethnicities to, to welcome opportunities and to be able to share those opportunities those moments. It's just an amazing thing. That I can say it's an amazing thing,” Dr. Amos said.