St. John's Baptist Church (Miami, Florida) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. John's Baptist Church
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 Location in Miami
Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1328 N.W. 3rd Ave., Miami, Florida |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1940 |
| Architect | McKissack & McKissack |
| Architectural style | Moderne |
| MPS | Downtown Miami Multiple Resource Area |
| NRHP reference No. | 88002970 |
| Added to NRHP | April 17, 1992 |
St. John's Baptist Church (also known as the New St. John Institutional Baptist Church) is a historic church in Miami, Florida. It is located at 1328 Northwest 3rd Avenue. This church is so important that on April 17, 1992, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a special building recognized for its history and architecture.
Contents
The Church's Early Days
Starting a New Congregation
On June 17, 1906, a small group of people gathered to worship. They met at the corner of NW 2nd Avenue and 11th Terrace in Miami. They called their new church the Second Baptist Church. The first leader, or pastor, of this group was Reverend Bynom.
Finding a Permanent Home
Soon after, Reverend N.B. Williams became the new pastor. Under his leadership, the church grew. The members moved their meetings to Jackson's Hall on 10th Street. They started planning for their own building. They bought a piece of land at 12th Street and 3rd Avenue. Construction then began on a wooden building that was 50 by 48 feet.
The church members moved into their new building on the third Sunday in February 1908. Reverend Williams led the church until late 1910.
Growth and New Buildings
Reverend Drake's Leadership
In 1912, Reverend Jarius Wilkerson Drake joined the church. He became the new pastor on the first Sunday in February. Reverend Drake was a kind and Christian leader. Under his care, the church grew a lot.
The first church building was damaged by big storms in 1926 and 1928. It was repaired, but it became too small for the growing number of members. So, the church bought a larger piece of land. A brand new church building was finished in 1940. This is the church building that stands today at 13th Street and 3rd Avenue. At this time, the church became known as St. John Missionary Baptist Church. Reverend Drake served as pastor until he passed away in February 1951.
Reverend Johnson's Era of Expansion
After Reverend Drake, Reverend Thedford Johnson became the new pastor. He had been serving as the Assistant Pastor. Under Reverend Johnson's leadership, the church built a two-story house for the pastor, called a parsonage. They also built a Fellowship Hall, which is a place for church members to gather. A Children's Center was also created for younger members.
The church building itself was improved. Air conditioning was added to the main worship area, called the sanctuary. The church pews (benches) were made more comfortable with cushions. St. John's Baptist Church also became famous across the country for its Baptist Training Union (BTU). For 30 years, St. John was known as a top church in Florida. It was even called the "National Model" by a national church leader, Dr. J. H. Jackson.
Reverend Johnson was also interested in community and political matters. He encouraged the church members to be proud of their community. The church continued to do well. St. John hosted the National Baptist Convention four times: in 1969, 1973, 1977, and 1982. Reverend Johnson also had a radio program from 1977 to 1980. The church changed its name again to St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church. Reverend Johnson retired in February 1985.
Recent History
New Ideas and Leadership
Reverend Henry Nevin became the temporary pastor in March 1985. During this time, Reverend Nevin suggested creating a Community Development Corporation. This group would help fix up affordable homes for people who needed them. It would also help build homes for people with average incomes in the community. On January 9, 1986, Reverend Nevin was chosen as the Senior Pastor of St. John. Reverend Nevin retired from his church duties on Sunday, June 1, 2008.
After Reverend Nevin, Reverend Dr. Charles Uptgrow Sr. took over as Senior Minister. However, due to health reasons, the position was then given to Reverend Antonio Bolden, who was the Youth Minister at the time. The church began looking for a new permanent pastor. In April 2010, Bishop James Dean Adams became the Senior Pastor of St. John.
Architecture
The church building was designed by a famous architecture firm called McKissack & McKissack. They designed it in the Moderne style. This style of architecture was popular in the 1930s and 1940s. It often features smooth surfaces, rounded corners, and simple, clean lines. The church is also known as the New St. John Institutional Baptist Church.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Juan el Bautista (Miami) para niños
