Hunter Street Baptist Church history

Reverend Samuel Patterson Pettagrue was called to West Hunter in 1935.

In August 1953, West Hunter members marched into their new home; and on Sunday, October 25, 1953, the Church conducted its formal “Laying of the Cornerstone” service.

Following Fisher’s death in 1960, the Rev.

He assumed full duties as Pastor on November 12, 1961.

Subsequent to Doctor King’s passing in 1968 Abernathy took over as President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and carried forth national initiatives such as Operation Breadbasket and the Poor People’s Campaign.

During his tenure the church’s financial operations were restructured resulting in the acquisition of new properties, including a gymnasium and senior housing facility, and relocation to the current sanctuary on 1040 Ralph D. Abernathy Blvd., SW in 1973.

Doctor T. DeWitt Smith, Jr., was called to be the seventeenth spiritual leader of West Hunter Street Baptist Church on December 18, 1991.

Early in his administration Pastor Smith did a comprehensive study of the physical needs of our Church and in January 1993, he organized a Renovation Steering Committee.

Pastor Smith preached his Farewell Sermon on Sunday, August 31, 2003.

Doctor Toussaint King Hill, Jr. answered the call to serve as the pastor of West Hunter Street Baptist Church in 2006.

The Vine City NPU-L Historic Westside News featured an article on these efforts in a 2008 edition of the paper.

In 2016, he also used the funds to implement a free summer camp which focused on S.T.E.M and basketball (eventually adding volleyball), in conjunction with the Danny Ferry foundation which remains a signature program of the West Hunter Street Baptist Church.

You Can Help Support Preservation of the Historic West Hunter Baptist Street Church National Parks Service (NPS) Special Resource Study want to hear your stories, share your memorabilia, photos and input by March 31st, 2017