History of St. Paul Baptist Church
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Early Beginnings
The Rev. St. James Williams, a licensed preacher, came to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1918. He joined with four other men to form a Negro Baptist Fellowship within walking distance of their homes. St Paul’s humble beginnings started with a need to bring church services to Northampton Heights.
Rev. Williams enlisted in the armed forces in 1919 during World War I and served one year. Rev. Williams who was born in 1873 in Birmingham, Alabama returned to Alabama to bring his wife, Katie Joe Williams, and her children, Eddie, Samuel and Ella Lewis back to Bethlehem after his discharge.
Returning to Bethlehem in 1920, Rev. Williams oversaw the formation of a small group of worshippers who held services in the name of Mount Olive Baptist Church. Rev. F.P. Diggs pastored the church from 1921 until he was called to another church in 1923.
Rev. Perkins was then called to pastor the church. From 1920-1924 services were held in storefronts and temporary locations at Second and Carbon Streets, the 1500 block of East Third Street, and at Second and Bessemer Streets.
Rev. Perkins with his associate, Rev. St. James Williams, and members of the church gathered to discuss buying property to establish a permanent place of worship. A committee was formed to purchase some land in May of 1925. Members of the committee were Trustee Ross Washington (Chairman of the Board), Trustee Boise Glass and Trustee Joseph Wilson. Land at Second and Carbon Streets was purchased.
During the planning of the new church building, Rev. Perkins was called to pastor elsewhere. Rev. St. James Williams was then taken to Philadelphia by Rev. Diggs and the officers of the church and he was ordained into the ministry. Rev. Williams was selected to pastor the church under the supervision of Rev. P.H. Hughes and Rev. McCrayer.
Rev. St. James Williams (founder) and Sister Katie Lewis Williams (wife)
Pastor of St. Paul from 1925 – 1931, 1933 – 1943
Breaking Ground for the New Church
On a Sunday morning in July 1925, a splendid service was held at the ground breaking for the new church in Northampton Heights. The name of St. Paul Baptist Church was established at this service. Following the opening hymn, scripture reading and prayer, Rev. George A. Weidman, supply pastor during this month at the First Baptist Church, Bethlehem, made a few brief but timely and appropriate remarks. Mrs. Watson, of the Second Baptist Church, Bethlehem, sang and the Rev. F. P. Diggs of Easton was Master of Ceremonies. Rev. T. A. Collins, pastor of Union A.M.E. Church in Easton delivered the sermon, using as his text “The People Had a Mind to Work”. A large offering for the time of over $100.00 was collected for which officers of the church were very grateful. After this service the congregation went to the proposed site of the new building, Pastor St. James Williams lifted the first shovel full of earth and then passed the shovel to the other pastors who did likewise. Members of the congregation then placed their offering in the hole, covered it up and the inspiring service was concluded.
Charter members were the Rev. St. James and Katie Williams , Thomas and Rebecca Glass, Lloyd B. Glass, Frances Potillo (Gunn), Joseph and Hattie Wilson, Samuel Lewis, James W. and Georgia Williams, George and Sarah Washington, James Ross Washington and Mr. and Mrs. Casey.
The new structure, a frame building with outside facilities and no running water was completed in September 1926. Water was secured from next door at the home of Deacon and Mrs. James Williams. The church, with a wooden floor, homemade benches and a potbelly stove in the middle of the floor,
seated approximately 100 people.
Sister Nora Kent (Kannon) was the first candidate for baptism once in the new church building. The baptism took place in Saucon Creek as did subsequent baptisms. Membership began to grow. The official board consisted of Deacons: Thomas Glass, Charles Washington, Ross Washington, Ernest Enix, James Bryant, James Williams, and James Washington. Trustees: Lenwyn Glass, Abner Terry, Norman Glass, Samuel Lewis, Isaiah Smith, and William Gunn, Sr. Hattie Wilson was church secretary. Samuel Lewis and Isaiah Smith were ordained as deacons by the Rev. St. James Williams. These officers played a tremendous part in the advancement of St. Paul Baptist Church and served St. Paul faithfully until their passing.
Rev. St. James Williams had a great desire to build and unite the Bethlehem community in Christian love. He worked hard in serving the church, visiting not only his members and the sick but the community as well. He was remembered traveling the community wearing his black felt hat. He often made house calls, sang, prayed and collected money on Saturdays for the church. He was a highly respected man. His theme was “Build your hope on things eternal and hold to God’s unchanging hand.”
In the early days of St. Paul the first Missionary Club was formed in 1924. Katie Williams, the first mother of the church, was named president; Mrs. Frances Gunn, Vice President; and Wilhemina “Bootsie” Terrell, Secretary. The first Sunday School was formed in the mid 1920’s with Trustee Ross Washington as its superintendent. The ushers were organized in 1926.
St. Paul continued to grow. As the years passed the membership became stronger. In 1931 the Woman’s Club bought the first gift for St. Paul, a rug runner to be put on the wooden floor. The members were Mrs. Katie Williams, Mrs. Frances Gunn, Mrs. Lucreasia Mercer and others.
In 1931, Rev. Eugene Hagans of Philadelphia was called to pastor St. Paul.
Rev. Hagans was pastor for approximately 1 ½ years until Rev. Williams was recalled to shepherd the church.
In 1934, Julia Chin formed the Willing Workers. Mrs. Frances Gunn was President, and Mrs. Hattie Wilson was Secretary. Members serving both the Missionary and Willing Workers Clubs were Mrs. Nancy Clayton, Mrs. Ella Glass, Mrs. Rebecca Glass, Mrs. Annie (Pat) Terry, Mrs. Gilmore, Mrs. Monia Glass, Mrs. Casey, and Mrs. Georgette Williams.
Serving as Sunday School teachers were Deacon McCrea and Mrs. Lynette Brown. Picnics in Central Park are fondly remembered.
The youth were involved in various activities during this time also. There was a Boy Scout Program under the leadership of Mr. Wilcox, Charlie Richardson, William Brown, Isaiah Smith and Bert Tarboro. St. Paul’s youth and the youth at the Ukrainian Church would visit each other for May Day programs. The youth were dressed in white and fondly remember the cake and ice cream following the programs.
There were also youth choirs. The youth included Ella, Mary Ellen, Vivian and Bert Tarboro; Willie, Marian, Bessie, Donald, Sevilla and Beatrice Gunn; Francis Terry; Lucille Sturdivant; Lillie Ruth Davis; Alma Grant; Sara Hall; Lillian and Dorothy Lewis; Ernest, Isaiah, Jr., Geneva and James Smith; Joan, Dorothy and Edward Brown; William Brown; Thad and Queen Esther Grimes, Hortense Moore; Martin Kent; Delores Williams; Mack Freeman; Johnny Terrell; the Washington and Potillo children.
Music played a large part in the church’s history. In the 30’s and 40’s there were monthly Ministerial Alliance Services with visiting choirs and programs with instrumental music, classics and just good singing that would rock the foundation of the church. Annie Smith served as the musician (piano) during the early 30’s. Sis. Louise Ball served as the church pianist playing for the St. James Jubilee Gospel Chorus, the Senior Choir and the Junior Choir. Frances Terry, Lizzie Moore, Mr. Walker, Evelyn Johnson, Sis. Louise Tarboro and Ernest “Buddie” Smith (youth choir) followed Sis Ball.
Rev. Williams’ hope was to build the church for the coming generation. He faithfully strove for this until his death in 1943. Rev. Williams’ funeral was preached by Rev. Pratt. Bethlehem Mayor Pfieffle was present and the church was crowded. Loudspeakers were set up for the people who were sitting outside. Mrs. Rockymore sang “We Are Our Father’s Children”. It was a very emotional home going service.
Rev. Williams left his members with the desire to continue in grace, faith and strength. In the years following his death, members of St. Paul continued in Rev. Williams’ vision. St. Paul was served by several ministers after Rev. William’s death until 1949. Among them were Rev. Walker, Rev. Foster, Rev. Raymond L. Warren (1942-1949) and Rev. Edward Johnson.
On March 7, 1948, a meeting was held at the home of Lucreasia and William Mercer to discuss a building project to more adequately service the church and the means of financing the project. A prayer service opened the meeting then the business meeting was called to order. Several avenues were discussed and on that evening St. Paul formed the first Building Fund Club. Attending the meeting were Deacon Isaiah Smith, Bert Tarboro, Jr. (Club chairman), Deacon Samuel Lewis (Assistant Chairman), Deacon James Williams, Sis. Katie Williams, Sis. Beulah Grimes, Sis. Lucreasia Mercer and Sis. Frances Gunn.
The old frame building was torn down and the lot was cleared for the foundation of the second St. Paul Baptist Church building. The project was turned over to the Deacon Board Chairman, Isaiah Smith. Working with him were William Gunn, Sr., Deacon James Williams, Bert Tarboro, Jr. and Deacon Samuel Lewis. At the beginning of the project a meeting was called to discuss finances. At this meeting the Treasurer reported that the church had the sum of $1,800.00 to start building. A 40 x 60 foot area was excavated and old lumber, second hand plumbing, cement and cement bricks were purchased.
St. Paul went through a period of disunity and mismanagement. The pastor took the project into his own hands and spent money as he went and the money ran out. The project was at a standstill and St. Paul lost most of their building material.
The members regrouped and put the project back into the hands of the trustees. Meanwhile, with no place to hold services, deacon Isaiah Smith and his wife, Annie Smith cleaned out the basement of their home at 1800 E 3rd Street to allow St. Paul to hold services there. Leaning on Trustee Smith’s quiet strength, the officers went to work, sold all the remaining bricks, had all the old plumbing hauled away, and had the excavation re-dug starting a new one. During all this time the auxiliaries never stopped working or raising money by cooking home dinners. A suggestion by Bert Tarboro to subcontract the project was adopted by the Building Fund Club. A bricklayer and a carpenter were hired and with the help of each member and many friends the work on the new building began.
The second St. Paul Baptist Church was solidly built by hand labor contributed by members and friends working together. The women had a two-fold job, housework and helping at the church in the evening. They used picks and shovels, pushed wheelbarrows, some carried blocks and bricks, moved lumber from place to place and helped wherever they could. The women played a tremendous part in helping the men construct the building.
Benefit musical concerts were also held to help in funding the construction. One such concert was organized by Eugene Strong, a concert baritone artist, at Liberty High School in 1949. Through hard times, trials and heartaches, the members never once doubted in whom they put their trust. They trusted in the Creator of heaven and earth and the Ruler of all things. As the building took form and the lower area was under completion, the work began on the upper area.
Cornerstone Laid at New Church
The cornerstone of the new church was laid on the first Sunday in September 1949 by Rev. Solomon Quash, pastor of Second Baptist Church in Coatesville, PA. On September 12, 1949, Rev. William D. Corum of Pottstown, PA preached the first sermon in the completed basement. The structure was covered with a canvas, because the upper level was not yet completed.
Rev. Corum was called to pastor St. Paul on October 21, 1949 and was ordained by Rev. Haywood Butler, pastor of Second Baptist Church of Pottstown, PA.