Hunter Street Baptist Church: Difference between revisions

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'''Hunter Street Baptist Church''' is a [[List of megachurches|7,500 member]] Baptist church with a sprawling 42-acre campus at 2600 [[John Hawkins Parkway]] in [[Hoover]]. The pastor, since [[1986]], is [[Buddy Gray]].
'''Hunter Street Baptist Church''' is a [[List of megachurches|7,500 member]] Baptist church with a sprawling 42-acre campus at 2600 [[John Hawkins Parkway]] in [[Hoover]]. The pastor, since [[1986]], is [[Buddy Gray]].


Hunter Street Baptist was organized as the '''Compton Hill Mission''', and then '''Compton Hill Baptist Church''' in [[1907]] at the [[Compton Hill School]] on [[3rd Avenue West]] in [[Ensley]].  
Hunter Street Baptist was organized as the '''Compton Hill Mission''', and then '''Compton Hill Baptist Church''' on [[January 6]], [[1907]] at the [[Compton Hill School]] on [[3rd Avenue West]] in [[Ensley]]. A year later, the congregation built their own church building at [[Eufala Avenue|Hunter Street]] and [[24th Street Ensley|24th Street]] on the east edge of [[Ensley]]. The property was donated by a Mr Wildsmith, whose daughter [[Hunter Wildsmith|Hunter]] gave both the street and the church its name.  


Soon the congregation built their own church building at [[Eufala Avenue|Hunter Street]] and [[24th Street Ensley|24th Street]] on the east edge of [[Ensley]]. The property was donated by a Mr Wildsmith, whose daughter [[Hunter Wildsmith|Hunter]] gave both the street and the church its name.  
It later moved a few blocks to 1614-20 [[4th Court West]] in [[Bush Hills]], where church buildings were erected across the street from each other in [[1928]], [[1952]] and [[1957]].


It later moved a few blocks to 1614 [[4th Court West]] in [[Bush Hills]], where church buildings were erected across the street from each other in [[1928]] and [[1957]]. After the church left, Hunter Street reverted to its original name, Eufala Avenue.
The sanctuary building was constructed at a cost of $90,000. Begun in [[1928]], the [[Great Depression]] and [[World War II]] delayed its opening until January [[1949]], when 500 congregants marched from Hunter Street to 4th Court West. After the church moved, Hunter Street reverted to its original name of [[Eufala Avenue]]. Over the next few years, membership tripled.


Construction of the 1957 building was marred by a fatal accident when the steeple collapsed, killing an iron worker. A curtain was erected in front of the choir in [[1928]] to secure the modesty of the choir members who favored flapper-style skirts.
The [[1952]] building, opened on [[December 21]] by pastor [[Charles Bowles]], served as a Sunday School wing with seven nurseries, numerous classrooms and assembly rooms, a library and an air-conditioned chapel. Construction of the 1957 building was marred by a fatal accident when the steeple collapsed, killing an iron worker. A curtain was erected in front of the choir in [[1928]] to secure the modesty of the choir members who favored flapper-style skirts.


In the 1960s Hunter Street broadcast its Sunday services live on [[WAQY-AM|WAQY]] [[AM 1220]]. The church also had a girls' singing group called the [[Treblettes]], which released two recordings on vinyl. Over the next two decades the church's membership declined as white families [[white flight|moved]] to Birmingham's suburbs.
In the 1960s Hunter Street broadcast its Sunday services live on [[WAQY-AM|WAQY]] [[AM 1220]]. The church also had a girls' singing group called the [[Treblettes]], which released two recordings on vinyl. Over the next two decades the church's membership declined as white families [[white flight|moved]] to Birmingham's suburbs.
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==References==
==References==
* Ellaby, Liz (September 16, 2007) "Hunter Street Baptist looks back 50 years, then imagines future." ''Birmingham News''.
* Ellaby, Liz (September 16, 2007) "Hunter Street Baptist looks back 50 years, then imagines future." {{BN}}
* Ellaby, Liz (January 21, 2007) ''Hunter Street Baptist salutes 100 years of life." ''Birmingham News''.
* Ellaby, Liz (January 21, 2007) ''Hunter Street Baptist salutes 100 years of life." {{BN}}
* Collins, Clarice Harrell, Lettie Johnson Riser and Arthur Lonzo Walker, Jr (1982) ''Forward in Faith: from Compton Hill Mission to Hunter Street Baptist Church, 1894-1971''. Birmingham: Hunter Street Baptist Church.
* Collins, Clarice Harrell, Lettie Johnson Riser and Arthur Lonzo Walker, Jr (1982) ''Forward in Faith: from Compton Hill Mission to Hunter Street Baptist Church, 1894-1971''. Birmingham: Hunter Street Baptist Church.
* Winslett, Emily (March 21, 2004) "[http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/studentwork/religion/2004/archives/000321.asp Faith on 42 Acres: A visit to the Hunter Street Baptist Church]." Covering Religion: The Soul of the South. Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. - accessed January 21, 2007
* Winslett, Emily (March 21, 2004) "[http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/studentwork/religion/2004/archives/000321.asp Faith on 42 Acres: A visit to the Hunter Street Baptist Church]." Covering Religion: The Soul of the South. Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. - accessed January 21, 2007

Revision as of 08:28, 4 December 2012

Hunter Street BC logo.png

Hunter Street Baptist Church is a 7,500 member Baptist church with a sprawling 42-acre campus at 2600 John Hawkins Parkway in Hoover. The pastor, since 1986, is Buddy Gray.

Hunter Street Baptist was organized as the Compton Hill Mission, and then Compton Hill Baptist Church on January 6, 1907 at the Compton Hill School on 3rd Avenue West in Ensley. A year later, the congregation built their own church building at Hunter Street and 24th Street on the east edge of Ensley. The property was donated by a Mr Wildsmith, whose daughter Hunter gave both the street and the church its name.

It later moved a few blocks to 1614-20 4th Court West in Bush Hills, where church buildings were erected across the street from each other in 1928, 1952 and 1957.

The sanctuary building was constructed at a cost of $90,000. Begun in 1928, the Great Depression and World War II delayed its opening until January 1949, when 500 congregants marched from Hunter Street to 4th Court West. After the church moved, Hunter Street reverted to its original name of Eufala Avenue. Over the next few years, membership tripled.

The 1952 building, opened on December 21 by pastor Charles Bowles, served as a Sunday School wing with seven nurseries, numerous classrooms and assembly rooms, a library and an air-conditioned chapel. Construction of the 1957 building was marred by a fatal accident when the steeple collapsed, killing an iron worker. A curtain was erected in front of the choir in 1928 to secure the modesty of the choir members who favored flapper-style skirts.

In the 1960s Hunter Street broadcast its Sunday services live on WAQY AM 1220. The church also had a girls' singing group called the Treblettes, which released two recordings on vinyl. Over the next two decades the church's membership declined as white families moved to Birmingham's suburbs.

In 1987 the congregation, then numbering around 200, moved to Hoover, selling its 4th Court West property to Sardis Baptist Church, which relocated from Graymont Avenue.

References

  • Ellaby, Liz (September 16, 2007) "Hunter Street Baptist looks back 50 years, then imagines future." The Birmingham News
  • Ellaby, Liz (January 21, 2007) Hunter Street Baptist salutes 100 years of life." The Birmingham News
  • Collins, Clarice Harrell, Lettie Johnson Riser and Arthur Lonzo Walker, Jr (1982) Forward in Faith: from Compton Hill Mission to Hunter Street Baptist Church, 1894-1971. Birmingham: Hunter Street Baptist Church.
  • Winslett, Emily (March 21, 2004) "Faith on 42 Acres: A visit to the Hunter Street Baptist Church." Covering Religion: The Soul of the South. Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. - accessed January 21, 2007

External link

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