Preservation work begins before demolition of Mt. Moriah church

Site to be cleared for construction of downtown parking garage

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Posted January 22, 2025 | By Caroline Brauchler, [email protected]
Photos by Bruce Ackerman, [email protected]

As demolition begins at the Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, excavation crews are working to remove historical artifacts from the church for preservation, including its iconic stained-glass window.

With the loss of this historical landmark of the Black community, the city promised church members and citizens that not only would pieces of the church be preserved, but a monument would be erected at the future parking garage to mark the land’s significance.

The Mt. Moriah Church community has since moved to another location, after the city purchased the property in 2022 for $2 million.

In December 2024, the city awarded a $17.5 million bid to SSC Construction Management LLC to design and build the garage at 55 SW Third Ave. The garage is proposed to be up to seven floors, with each floor designed to hold at least 800 vehicles. The top level would be open-air parking.

The project is anticipated to be completed by around June 2026.

The council also awarded Thomas Amodeo D/B/A A&A Trucking and Excavating a $94,694 contract to demolish and remove the building structures and disconnect and remove the utility services that serve the buildings.

The contract required the demolition company to preserve the stained-glass window that serves as a historical marker for the building by removing it and delivering it to the city.

Mt. Moriah has a long history in Ocala, dating back to 1867. Richard Edwards, the son of Pastor Emeritus Lorenzo Edwards, pleaded with the city council during construction contract negotiations to help preserve elements of the church during its demolition.

“Within the church, there’s a stained-glass window that was designed by my mother to commemorate my brother and others who have gone on to glory,” Edwards said. “We feel like this is the mother church of many churches in this community.”

The Mt. Moriah church was founded when the Rev. Samuel Small and 90 Black members of First Baptist Church, most of them were former slaves, decided to break away and form a church of their own, according to church documents.

The stained-glass window bears the words: “In memoriam, for all deceased members of this church,” along with the scripture Matthew 25:21— “Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord.”

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