Ruhama Baptist Church: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Ruhama Baptist Church.JPG|right|thumb|450px|Ruhama Baptist Church, August 27, 1954]] | [[File:Ruhama Baptist Church.JPG|right|thumb|450px|Ruhama Baptist Church, August 27, 1954]] | ||
'''Ruhama Baptist Church''' (pronounced "ru- | '''Ruhama Baptist Church''' (pronounced "ru-HAY-ma") was a Southern Baptist church located at 7901 [[2nd Avenue South]] in [[East Lake]]. Ruhama was the second Baptist church in [[Jefferson County]], after [[Canaan Baptist Church]] in [[Jonesboro]], and the oldest church in what was later surrounded by the city limits of [[Birmingham]]. | ||
Ruhama was organized with [[Hosea Holcombe]] as pastor, on [[March 27]], [[1819]], in a log cabin located where [[Division Avenue]] is crossed by [[77th Street North|77th Street]]. It was named for the daughter of the prophet Hosea, translated as "mercy and compassion." | Ruhama was organized with [[Hosea Holcombe]] as pastor, on [[March 27]], [[1819]], in a log cabin located where [[Division Avenue]] is crossed by [[77th Street North|77th Street]]. It was named for the daughter of the prophet Hosea, translated as "mercy and compassion." | ||
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Ruhama dedicated a new sanctuary at 7901 2nd Avenue South under pastor [[J. C. Stivender]] on [[September 5]], [[1926]]. It was designed by [[William Leslie Welton]]. Ruhama's members included a number of faculty members and students from the college. Commencement ceremonies for Howard were held in the Ruhama sanctuary, and the church provided a stabilizing force for the college throughout its time in East Lake. The relationship between the two institutions changed when Howard College moved to its current campus on [[Lakeshore Drive]] in [[Homewood]]. | Ruhama dedicated a new sanctuary at 7901 2nd Avenue South under pastor [[J. C. Stivender]] on [[September 5]], [[1926]]. It was designed by [[William Leslie Welton]]. Ruhama's members included a number of faculty members and students from the college. Commencement ceremonies for Howard were held in the Ruhama sanctuary, and the church provided a stabilizing force for the college throughout its time in East Lake. The relationship between the two institutions changed when Howard College moved to its current campus on [[Lakeshore Drive]] in [[Homewood]]. | ||
In the latter part of the 20th century, membership dwindled in the congregation from about 3000 in the 1970s. In | In the latter part of the 20th century, membership dwindled in the congregation from about 3000 in the 1970s. In April [[2001]], the congregation voted to merge with [[First Baptist Irondale]]. The final service was held in the church building on [[December 2]]. | ||
Ruhama's "sister church", [[Greater Emmanuel Temple Holiness Church]] took over the East Lake campus under a lease-purchase plan. The congregation planned to establish a school with adult education classes, a crisis center, and a senior citizens home in the area. | |||
Ruhama Baptist Church's records are housed in the Special Collections Department of the [[Samford University]] Library. | |||
==Pastors== | ==Pastors== | ||
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* Huey, Thomas E. (1946) ''Ruhama: The Story of a Church, 1819-1945''. Birmingham: Ruhama Baptist Church. | * Huey, Thomas E. (1946) ''Ruhama: The Story of a Church, 1819-1945''. Birmingham: Ruhama Baptist Church. | ||
* Fanna K. Bee and Lee N. Allen (1969) ''Sesquicentennial History Ruhama Baptist Church, 1819-1969 ''. Birmingham: Ruhama Baptist Church | * Fanna K. Bee and Lee N. Allen (1969) ''Sesquicentennial History Ruhama Baptist Church, 1819-1969 ''. Birmingham: Ruhama Baptist Church | ||
* McGill, Malinda Hallman (January 4, 2002) "[https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/historic-church-passes-torch-to-new-ministry/ Historic church passes torch to new ministry]." ''Baptist Press'' | |||
===See also=== | ===See also=== | ||
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[[Category:Baptist churches]] | [[Category:Baptist churches]] | ||
[[Category:2nd Avenue South]] | [[Category:2nd Avenue South]] | ||
[[Category:East Lake]] | [[Category:Churches in East Lake]] | ||
[[Category:1819 establishments]] | [[Category:1819 establishments]] | ||
[[Category:1926 buildings]] | [[Category:1926 buildings]] | ||
[[Category:2001 disestablishments]] | [[Category:2001 disestablishments]] | ||
[[Category:William Welton buildings]] | [[Category:William Welton buildings]] | ||
Latest revision as of 09:11, 11 May 2023
Ruhama Baptist Church (pronounced "ru-HAY-ma") was a Southern Baptist church located at 7901 2nd Avenue South in East Lake. Ruhama was the second Baptist church in Jefferson County, after Canaan Baptist Church in Jonesboro, and the oldest church in what was later surrounded by the city limits of Birmingham.
Ruhama was organized with Hosea Holcombe as pastor, on March 27, 1819, in a log cabin located where Division Avenue is crossed by 77th Street. It was named for the daughter of the prophet Hosea, translated as "mercy and compassion."
The nearby East Lake Cemetery was established in 1836. The church later moved to 7720 2nd Avenue South. The Ruhama Academy school , across the street, was redeveloped in 1887 as the new campus for Howard College, which moved from Marion, Perry County.
Ruhama dedicated a new sanctuary at 7901 2nd Avenue South under pastor J. C. Stivender on September 5, 1926. It was designed by William Leslie Welton. Ruhama's members included a number of faculty members and students from the college. Commencement ceremonies for Howard were held in the Ruhama sanctuary, and the church provided a stabilizing force for the college throughout its time in East Lake. The relationship between the two institutions changed when Howard College moved to its current campus on Lakeshore Drive in Homewood.
In the latter part of the 20th century, membership dwindled in the congregation from about 3000 in the 1970s. In April 2001, the congregation voted to merge with First Baptist Irondale. The final service was held in the church building on December 2.
Ruhama's "sister church", Greater Emmanuel Temple Holiness Church took over the East Lake campus under a lease-purchase plan. The congregation planned to establish a school with adult education classes, a crisis center, and a senior citizens home in the area.
Ruhama Baptist Church's records are housed in the Special Collections Department of the Samford University Library.
Pastors
- Hosea Holcombe, 1819-1821
- William Case, 1825-1828
- Thomas D. Armstrong, 1833-1835
- Joseph Byars, 1837-1850
- Andrew J. Waldrop, 1850-1880
- Benjamin F. Hendon, 1881-1882
- Samuel H. Henderson, 1882-1883
- James E. Chambliss, 1884
- William C. Cleveland, 1884-1886
- Eldred B. Teague, 1886-1888
- Arthur W. McGaha, 1888-1893
- Joshua H. Foster Jr, 1893-1895
- William A. Hobson, 1896-1900
- James M. Shelburne, 1900-1909
- Cecil V. Cook, 1910
- Willis W. Lee, 1910-1912
- James R. Edwards, 1912-1915
- Henry H. Hibbs, 1915-1919
- James C. Stivender, 1919-1944
- Selwyn Smith, 1945-1948
- Carl G. Campbell, 1954
- W. Landon Miller, 1957-1965
- Roland L. Jarrard
- Arthur Walker (interim), 2002-
References
- "Church Older Than State of Alabama" (March 26, 1938) newspaper clipping - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
- Huey, Thomas E. (1946) Ruhama: The Story of a Church, 1819-1945. Birmingham: Ruhama Baptist Church.
- Fanna K. Bee and Lee N. Allen (1969) Sesquicentennial History Ruhama Baptist Church, 1819-1969 . Birmingham: Ruhama Baptist Church
- McGill, Malinda Hallman (January 4, 2002) "Historic church passes torch to new ministry." Baptist Press