The 313+ Ancestors Speak Project
The 313+ Ancestors Speak Project is a community-driven effort to honor and remember the lives of over 313 individuals buried at Siloam-Hope First Presbyterian Church.
Among those buried are people of African descent, many of whom were enslaved and some who were free, whose stories were nearly erased from the historical record. This project is rooted in truth-telling, education, and justice, working to ensure that these lives are acknowledged with the dignity they deserve.
About the 313+ Ancestors Speak Project
In 2019, Rev. Dr. Wanda Lundy began her tenure as pastor at Siloam-Hope First Presbyterian Church. While attending the city's Four Centuries in a Weekend tour, she learned that over 313 enslaved and free Africans were buried in unmarked graves on church grounds. Though the church's colonial-era cemetery is known for its Revolutionary War patriots, the stories of those in the unmarked graves had been left untold.
That tour marked the beginning of the 313+ Ancestors Speak Project and a commitment to remember those buried without recognition. For Lundy, the project is a spiritual mission and a form of historical justice, aimed at restoring dignity to lives that have been erased by time. In turn, the project has helped the congregation and the wider Black community in Elizabeth connect more deeply with their identity and heritage.
The project started at a significant moment for the church, which had recently united three distinct congregations: First Presbyterian, Siloam, and Hope Memorial. Siloam was initially formed as a segregated Black congregation by First Presbyterian in the 19th century. Now, generations later, that same community has returned, reclaiming their space and voice within the church where they were once only welcome to worship from the balcony.
The 313 Project has become a unifying force. Members from across the congregations have worked to identify those buried, honoring both the named and the nameless. In 2022, they broke ground for a memorial statue, an 18-foot sculpture designed by Sterling Brown. It was unveiled in 2023 during Juneteenth celebrations as a permanent tribute to the lives that were once forgotten but are now remembered.
You can visit the monument and pay respects to the 313+ buried on the church grounds at the Siloam-Hope Presbyterian Church at 42 Broad Street in Elizabeth.
Important Sites
America 250 Honoring All Histories
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, Elizabeth is embracing the milestone and providing tours, ceremonies, special exhibits, educational opportunities, and more. Visitors participating in America 250 events are encouraged to add these sacred sites to their itineraries, reflecting on the city's multifaceted past, and engaging with initiatives that promote an inclusive understanding of American history. The 313+ Ancestors Speak Project contributes to a broader dialogue about identity, legacy, and the ongoing journey toward justice and equality through remembrance and education.
Related:
42 Broad St. Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201 (908) 354-0016 | Website
42 Broad St. Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201 (908) 289-0960 | Website