St. Louis Street Missionary Baptist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Louis Street Missionary Baptist Church
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St. Louis Street Missionary Baptist Church in 2009
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 Location in Mobile, Alabama
Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Location | 108 N. Dearborn Street Mobile, Alabama |
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| Built | 1872 |
| Architect | Hutchinsson, C.L.; et al. |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, Renaissance |
| Restored | 1897 |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000347 |
| Added to NRHP | October 08, 1976 |
The St. Louis Street Missionary Baptist Church is an important historic church located in Mobile, Alabama. It's known for its beautiful design and long history. This church was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 8, 1976. This means it's recognized as a special place worth protecting.
Contents
History of the Church
The Church's Early Days
The St. Louis Street Missionary Baptist Church started from another church in Mobile. This was the African Baptist Church. It was located near Springhill Avenue and Ann Street. People were already meeting there by 1836. By 1839, they built their own church building. Later, this church became known as the Stone Street Baptist Church.
Some members of the original church had a disagreement. They disagreed about supporting a statewide missionary program. Because of this, some members decided to start a new church. This new church would become the St. Louis Street Missionary Baptist Church.
Finding a New Home
The new group of church members first met near Springhill Avenue and Broad Street. This was their temporary meeting spot. By 1859, they found a permanent home. They bought property on Dearborn Street. This is where the church stands today.
Pastors and New Buildings
The first pastor for the new church was Reverend Joshua Hawthorn. He was a white Baptist minister. Reverend Hawthorn left the church in 1860. After him, Reverend Charles Leavens became the pastor. He was the first African American minister for the congregation.
The church members worked hard to spread their message. They sent organizers all over Alabama. This effort helped many new churches and pastors join their mission. In 1872, the congregation built the church building you see today. A local architect named C. L. Hutchinsson designed it.
Important Meetings and Education
The new church building hosted a very important event in 1874. This was the seventh Colored Baptist Convention of Alabama. During this meeting, a big decision was made. They decided to create Selma University. This university was officially formed in 1878. The church building was later restored in 1897.
See also
- List of Baptist churches in Alabama
