Sacred Harp Sing

The Sacred Harp is the only hymnal known to have been used in frontier Florida. Years before there was a church in this area, the settlers would gather on Sundays to exchange news and to sing from this hymnal.

The four shaped notes - Fa, Sol, La, and Mi - were meant for those who could not read music.

Incised stone slab of the Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church : Old Chicora, Florida

Copy of the revised "Sacred Harp" by W.M. Cooper : Old Chicora, Florida

The Sacred Harp hymnal

Sacred Harp singing by members of Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church : Old Chicora, Florida

Woman leading Sacred Harp singing at the Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church : Old Chicora, Florida

Open Sacred Harp book for singing at the Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church : Old Chicora, Florida

Girls leading congregation in Sacred Harp singing at the Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church

Sacred Harp singing

Mother and son with a Sacred Harp book at the Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church : Old Chicora, Florida

Old man leading Sacred Harp singing at the Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church : Old Chicora, Florida

Sacred Harp singing by members of the Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church congregation : Old Chicora, Florida

Sacred Harp singing by congregation of the Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church : Old Chicora, Florida

Woman heading Sacred Harp singing at the Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church : Old Chicora, Florida

Girl singing from the Sacred Harp book at the Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church : Old Chicora, Florida

Sacred Harp singing at the Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church : Old Chicora, Florida

Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church building : Old Chicora, Florida