South Avondale Baptist Church
South Avondale Baptist Church (originally First Baptist Church of Avondale, later Avondale Baptist Church) was a Baptist church located at 4022 4th Avenue South in Forest Park-South Avondale.
The church was chartered on February 20, 1887 as a mission of Southside Baptist Church to the Avondale Mill Village and new City of Avondale. Twenty-three charter members met in a vacant shop before completing construction of the first framed church building at 4010 4th Avenue South in 1890. The church adopted the name "South Avondale Baptist Church" in 1912 and constructed a new brick building with an octagonal dome in 1916. M. P. Möller Inc.'s "Opus 5966" church organ was installed in 1931. The instrument was rebuilt in 1985 and dedicated as the "Bentley-Green Organ" in honor of Mrs W. C. Bentley and Dr R. C. Green.
By 1940 South Avondale Baptist had a membership of more than 1,500 people. In 1948, at the start of James Davidson's long pastorate, the church began construction of a two-story education building. The new wing was designed by architect Charles McCauley with dark red brick cladding to match the sanctuary. Day & Richardson were the contractors for the $100,000 project. A second education building was added later.
Davidson preached a sermon entitled, "Why Baptists and Protestants Fear a Catholic President," during the 1960 presidential election.
South Avondale Baptist Church closed in 2000 and turned over the deed to its property to the Birmingham Baptist Association. New Hope Baptist Church began using it as a second campus 2001, but later stopped holding services there, even as it continued to provide day care services from the campus. The Redeemer Church began using the sanctuary building in 2014, and purchased it from the Association in 2015. M-Power Ministries is also housed on the campus.
Pastors
- W. A. Hobson, 1887-
- C. J. Bentley
- John Inzer
- W. P. Reeves
- William Sentell, 1923-1928
- Hamilton Reid, 1928-1939
- M. F. Swilley, 1940-1945
- J. H. Webb, 1945-
- James E. Davidson, 1948-1969
References
- "Baptists In Avondale To Celebrate Founding" (February 27, 1937) Birmingham Post - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
- "South Avondale Baptist Church Expands" (March 28, 1948) newspaper clipping - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
- "South Avondale Baptists will fete 70th anniversary" (February 21, 1957) The Birmingham News - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
- "South Avondale Baptist– Church nears 72nd birthday" (February 14, 1959) The Birmingham News - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
- Davidson, James E. (1977) South Avondale Baptist Church, Birmingham, Alabama: Its Pastors, People and Program, 1887-1974. Birmingham: South Avondale Baptist Church
- Menendez, Albert J. (2014) The Religious Factor in the 1960 Presidential Election: An Analysis of the Kennedy Victory Over Anti-Catholic Prejudice. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Co. ISBN 9780786484935
- Garrison, Greg (December 25, 2014) "Christmas in Avondale: ancient meets modern." The Birmingham News