New Pilgrim Baptist Church: Difference between revisions
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'''New Pilgrim Baptist Church''' is a [[List of Baptist churches in Birmingham|Baptist church]] located at 708 [[Goldwire Place Southwest]] in [[Birmingham]]'s [[South Titusville]] [[List of Birmingham neighborhoods|neighborhood]]. | '''New Pilgrim Baptist Church''' is a [[List of Baptist churches in Birmingham|Baptist church]] located at 708 [[Goldwire Place Southwest]] in [[Birmingham]]'s [[South Titusville]] [[List of Birmingham neighborhoods|neighborhood]]. | ||
The church was founded as '''11th Street Baptist Church''' in [[1900]], and changed its name to '''St Luke Baptist Church''' in [[1909]]. In [[1929]] it was renamed '''Pilgrim Baptist Church''', which was modified to "New Pilgrim Baptist Church" | The church was founded as '''11th Street Baptist Church''' in [[1900]], and changed its name to '''St Luke Baptist Church''' in [[1909]]. In [[1929]] it was renamed '''Pilgrim Baptist Church''', which was modified to "New Pilgrim Baptist Church" with the completion of a new Gothic-styled building at 903 [[6th Avenue South]] in [[1946]]. | ||
In [[1953]] the church called pastor [[Nelson Smith]]. Under his leadership the church expanded its outreach to include the city's first church-run day care center, a credit union, and a radio broadcast on [[WJLD-AM]]. As a close friend of [[Fred Shuttlesworth]]'s, Smith also led the church to join the [[Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights]] which organized the [[Civil Rights Movement]] in Birmingham. New Pilgrim hosted the organization's second mass meeting, on [[June 11]], [[1956]] and Smith's sermons were noted for their erudition and passion. | |||
New Pilgrim Baptist Church was expanded in [[1959]] with a new wing that wrapped around the church and opened to the main auditorium with movable partitions, increasing seating capacity while also providing day care classrooms and weeknight meeting space. Additional spaces accommodated a kitchen, dining room, pastor's office, library, restrooms and storage closets. The church's expanded facilities made it a natural meeting place for meetings leading up to the [[Birmingham Campaign]] conducted with the [[Southern Christian Leadership Conference]]. Its proximity to [[Birmingham Jail]] was conducive to the spontaneous "[[Walk to the Jail]]" after a meeting on [[May 5]], [[1963]]. Folk singer [[Joan Baez]] had attended morning services that day and her escorts, Guy and Candie Carawan of the Highlander Folk School, were arrested outside that afternoon for violating the city's [[segregation ordinances]]. Billups led the group of 2,000 demonstrators who faced off against [[police dogs and fire hoses]]. The confrontation ended peacefully when he led the group to the nearby [[Memorial Park]] to continue praying. | |||
Several leaders in the movement attended New Pilgrim. [[Charles Billups Jr]] was the church's associate pastor. ACHMR treasurer [[James Armstrong]] was the plaintiff in the lawsuit that desegregated [[Birmingham City Schools]]. Church secretary [[Lola Hendricks]] became the correspondence secretary for the movement. [[Georgia Price]] chaired the ACMHR usher board and led voter registration efforts. And [[Mamie Brown]] partnered with [[Nims Gay]] to organize the [[ACMHR Choir]]. New Pilgrim hosted the funeral of [[Johnny Robinson]], a teenaged [[List of deadly police encounters|police shooting]] victim in September [[1963]]. Reverend [[Abraham Woods]] said during the service that, "not only are we here for the funeral of Johnnie Robinson, but I think we can say we are here for the funeral of Birmingham." | |||
Smith led the congregation for more than 50 years. | |||
The present 1,200-seat sanctuary was constructed in [[1979]]. | The present 1,200-seat sanctuary was constructed in [[1979]]. | ||
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==Pastors== | ==Pastors== | ||
* [[Nelson Smith]], | * [[Nelson Smith]], 1953–2006 | ||
* [[James Brooks]], | * [[James Brooks]], 2007–present | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 12:26, 5 May 2020
New Pilgrim Baptist Church is a Baptist church located at 708 Goldwire Place Southwest in Birmingham's South Titusville neighborhood.
The church was founded as 11th Street Baptist Church in 1900, and changed its name to St Luke Baptist Church in 1909. In 1929 it was renamed Pilgrim Baptist Church, which was modified to "New Pilgrim Baptist Church" with the completion of a new Gothic-styled building at 903 6th Avenue South in 1946.
In 1953 the church called pastor Nelson Smith. Under his leadership the church expanded its outreach to include the city's first church-run day care center, a credit union, and a radio broadcast on WJLD-AM. As a close friend of Fred Shuttlesworth's, Smith also led the church to join the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights which organized the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham. New Pilgrim hosted the organization's second mass meeting, on June 11, 1956 and Smith's sermons were noted for their erudition and passion.
New Pilgrim Baptist Church was expanded in 1959 with a new wing that wrapped around the church and opened to the main auditorium with movable partitions, increasing seating capacity while also providing day care classrooms and weeknight meeting space. Additional spaces accommodated a kitchen, dining room, pastor's office, library, restrooms and storage closets. The church's expanded facilities made it a natural meeting place for meetings leading up to the Birmingham Campaign conducted with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Its proximity to Birmingham Jail was conducive to the spontaneous "Walk to the Jail" after a meeting on May 5, 1963. Folk singer Joan Baez had attended morning services that day and her escorts, Guy and Candie Carawan of the Highlander Folk School, were arrested outside that afternoon for violating the city's segregation ordinances. Billups led the group of 2,000 demonstrators who faced off against police dogs and fire hoses. The confrontation ended peacefully when he led the group to the nearby Memorial Park to continue praying.
Several leaders in the movement attended New Pilgrim. Charles Billups Jr was the church's associate pastor. ACHMR treasurer James Armstrong was the plaintiff in the lawsuit that desegregated Birmingham City Schools. Church secretary Lola Hendricks became the correspondence secretary for the movement. Georgia Price chaired the ACMHR usher board and led voter registration efforts. And Mamie Brown partnered with Nims Gay to organize the ACMHR Choir. New Pilgrim hosted the funeral of Johnny Robinson, a teenaged police shooting victim in September 1963. Reverend Abraham Woods said during the service that, "not only are we here for the funeral of Johnnie Robinson, but I think we can say we are here for the funeral of Birmingham."
Smith led the congregation for more than 50 years.
The present 1,200-seat sanctuary was constructed in 1979.
The church completed a $4.2 million expansion, including a gymnasium/fellowship hall and new childcare center in June 2014. The project included spaces for a bookstore and coffee shop open during the week as well as on Sundays.
Pastors
- Nelson Smith, 1953–2006
- James Brooks, 2007–present
References
- Garrison, Greg (June 27, 2013) "New Pilgrim Baptist Church breaks ground on $3.5 million expansion." The Birmingham News
- Garrison, Greg (June 24, 2014) "New Pilgrim Baptist Church completes $4.2 million expansion." The Birmingham News