Name/Title
St. Francis Baptist Temple St. Joseph, MissouriEntry/Object ID
9999.CHU.13Tags
Further researchScope and Content
St. Francis Baptist Temple St. Joseph, MO
Church celebrating 125 years.
February 15, 2001, St. Joseph News-Press clipping article about St. Francis Baptist Temple by Alonzo Weston states St. Francis Baptist Temple is one of the oldest predominately black churches in the area. The church got its start in 1884 as Dillon Creek Baptist; it was small cabin on Missouri River bluffs between St. Joseph and Amazonia on K Highway; black and white worshipped together; 1863 after Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation abolishing slavery, the black members of the church desired to form a separate congregation and withdrew their membership; 1863 building on Francis Street of St. Joseph became the First African Baptist Church; 1872 Rev. W. W. Steward first official pastor; 1889 new church was built; 1926 property at 17th and Angelique; Francis Baptist Temple works with the predominately white Brookdale Presbyterian Church.
St. Joseph Telegraph July 8, 1999, picture of St. Francis Baptist Temple: picture of cabin which was the church 136 years ago (Dillion Creek Baptist Church) picture of A. B. Brown pastor of the church; picture of baptistery, no longer used by the church; picture of the bell which rang at the cabin known as Dillion Creek Baptist Church, earliest precursor of the St. Francis Baptist Temple.
A booklet, Founders' Celebration 1863-1963, describes the struggles and successes of the St. Joseph Baptist Temple at 17th and Angelique.
Picture of Pastor William Hedge, youth minister, is chairman of the fund-raising campaign for the new church; picture of Vivian and Everett Madison who are young at heart. He is the long-time church clerk; picture of fans that are available in the church vestibule on very hot days; picture of the all-purpose room which includes space for used computers donated by the St. Joseph School District. Present activities include after-school study hours as well as evening sessions for hitting the books and working on used computers.
The congregation and clergy attitudes and activities are testimony to their commitment to these words. Let those of us who are able, do likewise.Lexicon
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ChurchesSearch Terms
St. Francis Baptist Temple, Brookdale Presbyterian ChurchRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Steward, W. W. Rev.Person or Organization
A.B. BrownPerson or Organization
Vivian ModisonPerson or Organization
Everett MadisonPerson or Organization
William Hedge