In 1908, H. W. Jamison, a student
at Centenary College, started holding Sunday Schhool and services at an
old store just north of the I.C. Railroad tracks on Traffic Street.
The group later moved to a schoolhouse and then to an old school on Broadway
Street.
The group was organized in 1910,
with five women as the charter members and Rev. J.M. Boykin as the first
resident pastor. Property was acquired on Ogilvie Street in 1913
after Will McCormick donated two lots and the church bought another.
The parsonage was built in 1919. The first wooden church was built
two years later. Funds were rasied by Mrs. H.P. Moore (known as the
church mother) and other faithful members.
Though additional classrooms
were added as membership grew, it became clear that a new facility was
needed. In order to build the bigger church, the parsonage was moved.
The first service in the new building at 601 Ogilvie Street was on November
6, 1949. Dr. J. Henry Bowdon gave the message on March 19, 1950 as
the cornerstone was laid and the organ and furniture dedicated. The
old church was converted into classroom space. It was later moved
to the back and attached to the Elkins house that had been purchased.
Since more space was soon needed, plans began for an education building.
Under the leadership of Rev.
Alfred M. Brown, property was purchased on Monroe Street from the W.L.
Mabry family. The home on the site was moved behind the parsonage
and the land cleared. The first service in the new sanctuary was
held on January 20, 1980. The consecration service was led by Bishop
Kenneth Shamblin on March 16, 1980.
In the early 1980s, the parsonage
was sold. A new one was purchased in 1985 at 438 Mayfair Street.
The following year, the congregation decided to build two wings onto the
facilities for new classrooms.
The music program expanded at
the end of the decade as the church hired its first full-time Minister
of Music (Sidney Monteguido), bought a set of handbells, received a new
grand piano, and started a Gospel Choir and several children’s choirs.
In 1992, the church renovated
its facilities and bought the Waller property next to the church. |
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