1827
In 1827, the First African Baptist Church (now First Baptist Church located at Cardinal and Bell) was organized under the leadership of the creator of the “Freedom School,” Reverend John Berry Meachum.Because Missouri was then a slave state, Meachum had to take his school to free land, more specifically, free water. He took the unique approach of using a steamboat anchored in the middle of the Mississippi River as a school.
1846 to 1847
Twenty-three members of Reverend Meachum’s congregation at the
First African Baptist Church decided to withdraw from the
congregation due to the trend of people moving west and requested
letters and permission to start their own church. Permission was
granted. This group of 23 was led by Reverends Richard Sneethen and
John Richard Anderson.
The breakaway group, which consisted of both slaves and free
individuals initially met for prayer...
1847 to 1863
Upon Reverend Sneethen’s departure, Reverend John Richard
Anderson became shepherd of the flock. In October 1847, the church
was formally constituted as a regular Baptist church by the
Recognition Council.
In 1847, the Missouri Legislature passed a law stating that no
Negroes could be taught “Letters.” In other words Negroes were not
to learn how to read or write.
In 1851 under Reverend Anderson’s leadership, the church marched
from the...
1863 to 1865
Reverend James Freeman Boulden was called into service from Philadelphia three months after the death of Reverend Anderson. During the two years Reverend Boulden led the church he sent out Brother William P. Brooks, one of the twenty-three original founders, as a state missionary. He founded many churches throughout the state. He also ordained to the gospel Reverend S. P. Anderson (Reverend John Anderson’s son) who would later serve twice as the pastor of the...
1865 to 1868
The Reverend Henry Highland White followed Reverend Anderson and
served a three year tenure at Eighth Street steadily moving the
church forward. An eminent theologian and scholar, Reverend White
was one of the organizers of the Missouri Baptist Convention and
also one of the founders of Western College (now Western Baptist
Seminary, Kansas City, MO).
Reverend White also conducted a private church in the basement of
the Eighth Street Church to help the newly...
1868 to 1880
Reverend Simon Peter Anderson was the son of Reverend John
Richard Anderson and the first and only pastor to serve the flock
twice as its shepherd. He formed the Samaritan Relief Society in
1874 to help the aged, poor, and sick of the church as well as to
provide burial services for its members.
Reverend Simon Anderson championed the cause for public education
of blacks in the city of St. Louis. In 1877, he served as an active
member of the first and only...
1880 to 1884
The church continued to grow and thrive as a most notable religious force in the St. Louis community during these years. Reverend Sampson P. Lewis was now the pastor and his most notable contribution to the church was the organization of the Ladies Missionary Circle in 1882. The Circle assisted in the education of Reverend Enos Scruggs and other young ministers who were training at Western College. In July of 1884 Reverend Lewis submitted his letter of resignation.
1885 to 1889
After receiving his second call to pastor the church, Reverend
Simon P. Anderson returned to the pulpit. During his second term he
led the church from Eighth and Green Streets to a new church site
at Twenty-third and Morgan (now Delmar). It was at this new
location that the name of the church was changed to Central Baptist
Church.
During the thirty-four years the church was at Eighth and Green, it
had taken in 1,740 members. The church was the largest black...
1889 to 1903
By the late 1880’s the church called Reverend John Lewis Cohron,
Reverend Cohron was active in the organization of the Missouri
Baptist Convention. It was at this time that he inspired and
encouraged Central to lend one thousand dollars to Western College
( now Western Baptist Bible Seminary).
As the twentieth century was ushered in and the need to continue
increased awareness and positive opportunities for Negroes,
Reverend Cohron determined to make a...
1903 to 1937
The Reverend George E. Stevens came to Central and would serve
for thirty-four years. During his tenure he developed innovative
ways for the church to provide better service to its members by
introducing the envelope for tithes and offerings, the budget, and
the “groups” system which placed the members in clusters according
to the area they lived in. These groups served as a catalyst in
communication and increasing the good and welfare of the
membership.
1937 to 1941
For the next four years Central moved forward under the leadership of Reverend Clarence M. Long.
The music department of Central was expanded during these years with the organization of the Gospel Chorus and the Junior Choir.
The church continued to grow with Reverend Long as its shepherd. He introduced the church activity calendar in order to effectively keep up with what was happening at the church.
1942 to 1981
Reverend Dr. Thomas Elliott Huntley preached his first sermon on Mother’s Day, 1942, as a result of an invitation from the Central Baptist pastoral search committee. He was installed in August of that same year. After a three-month debt-clearance campaign instituted by Reverend Huntley, the original $4,538.54 mortgage balance was burned in Sunday, April 4, 1943.
As part of the 100th Church Anniversary, the administration launched 100 hours of continuous...
1984 to 1985
For three years the church searched for a new shepherd to lead them. After a vote of the congregation the Assistant Pastor, Reverend Clydrow Durbney was called.
He had been appointed in the early years to work with the Church on Wheels and was responsible for bringing hundreds of children to Christ.
During a morning worship service Reverend Durbney announced his resignation and another search committee was appointed to look for a new Pastor.
1985 to 1996
Late in 1985 the Reverend Ronald Broadnax Packnett was called to
assume the pastorate of the church. He and wife, Gwendolyn and
newborn baby girl, Brittany Noel relocated from New Haven,
Connecticut.
Reverend Packnett established Central’s Crisis Intervention Center
to assist the homeless and less fortunate with food, clothing and
spiritual guidance; the Thanksgiving and Christmas give-aways are
extensions of the Crisis Intervention Center. This program
is...
1999 to Present
The church was without a permanent pastor for three years but
was led by Reverend Ralph Jackson, Interim Pastor, until the
invitation was extended to the Reverend Dr. Robert Charles Scott, a
Monticello, Mississippi native who was pastoring a church in
Lexington, North Carolina. He would be the youngest pastor to be
called to this church.
Reverend Scott has added several teaching ministries to Central:
TNT -Thursday Night Teaching (Bible Study) (a noon...
