In the beginning of Central Baptist Church History

Before delving into the history of the Central Baptist Church let us digress for the moment and pay homage to the organizer of this great church, by giving a brief sketch of his life.

John Howard Pryor was born August 18^th, 1835.  The correct place of his birth is unknown.  After the Civil War his family moved to Arlington, VA, where he attended public school.  He was converted at the age of 17, but was not baptized until he was 21, because it was not customary for minors to be baptized in the Baptist denomination at this time.

His parents died during his early manhood, and he left Virginia to live in Washington, D.C.  He married and followed the occupation of huckerstering.  Shortly thereafter he was called to preach; but did not answer until he prepared himself  educationally.  He attended night school for several winters and in 1874, entered Wayland Seminary and completed a four year course of study.  During his first year in school he served as assistant pastor of the Second Baptist Church at Falls Church, VA.  In 1875 he was ordained by a council of fifty-two churches, and was called at once as pastor of the Second Baptist Church at Falls Church, VA.  He later became pastor of two other churches located in rural districts, and pastured all three of these churches successfully until 1884, at which time he was called to the Ebenezer Baptist Church as Pittsburgh, Pa.

Rev. Pryor pastured Ebenezer for seven years and proved himself an efficient leader.  In 1891 he felt that he had made his contribution in this field, therefore he decided to organize another church. One Sunday morning he announced, “All who wish to hear me preach next Sunday morning come to the Old Incline Hall.”

TIME OF TRANSITION

Thus in a duly authorized manner of a regular Baptist Council the Central Baptist Church was organized with Rev. Pryor as pastor with approximately 150 members. Their first meeting place was in the Old Incline Hall located on Penn Avenue at Arcena Street. Services were held here almost two years, and then a lot was purchased on Lawson Street, at a cost of $3,000 and a frame edifice erected at a cost of $2,000.

The congregation marched into this building led by their pastor in 1892 to dedicate it for worship services; Great rejoicing and happiness prevailed throughout this service, because the members seemed to be of one accord and had a determination to go forward. The church developed spiritually, financially and numerically.  Within two years the debt was reduced to $3,000, and many new members were added.  In 1894, Rev. Pryor resigned as pastor to accept a call to Nazareth Church at Washington, Pa.

 Rev. E.P. Jackson of Virginia (we do not have a photo, please use a silhouette for him)  was the second pastor of the church. The membership increased during his ministry, but the indebtedness of the church remained the same.  He labored here for almost four years.

 The Rev. John H. Boone of Orange, N.J., succeeded Rev. Jackson.  He became pastor of the church in 1901.  The church progressed remarkably under his leadership.  The old debts of the church were paid, and the mortgage was burned.  Over 300 members were added to the church and out of this number over 200 were baptized by his hands. After Rev. Boone’s resignation,

 Rev. George B. Howard became pastor in 1912. Rev. Howard came to us from the Gildfield Baptist Church at Petersburg, W. VA. Rev. Howard weaved his way into the very souls of the congregation, and the community, by his faithful  disposition. The membership increased so rapidly until the church building was inadequate to accommodate for them; so the Centennial Methodist Church on the corner of Wylie and Kirkpatrick Streets was purchased, which is the present site of the Central Baptist Church. The congregation marched into this building and dedicated it for religious worship in 1913. Abundant success marked the  entire pastorate of Rev. Howard, but the  enjoyment of such was short lived, for on one Sunday morning, June 2^nd, 1918, as Rev. Howard was making preparation to enter the pulpit and     deliver God’s message to a waiting congregation, the Lord called him to his reward. The membership and community were left in deep mourning for the great leader.

Prayers and supplications were offered to God, as the members bowed in humble submission to the will of God, and sought for a new leader for their church.  The answer came in the calling of Rev. W. Augustus Jones of Cincinnati, Ohio.  At this time many people were migrating from the south; thus the membership increased enormously from the time he accepted the charge, which was the first Sunday in April, 1919.  Central’s growth was so phenomenal that it was impossible for the building the church was occupying to accommodate the people. A pledge  campaign was launched to build a more commodious church edifice. Vast sums of money were raised in this effort.

Worship services were held at the Colombia Hall, Ebenezer Tabernacle, and Monumental Church, while the building program was in progress. The corner-stone was laid in September, 1922, and services resumed in the new building.  At the eleven o’clock services in November, 1927, Rev. Jones tendered his resignation, which was regretfully accepted.

 Rev. Dr. C.A. Ward, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church of Boston, Massachusetts, was called to pastor Central Church. He accepted the call the first Sunday in September, 1928. Dr. Ward was an educator as well as a minister; under his leadership many changes and improvements were advanced.  The decorum of the church was improved, the order of the service re-arranged and bulletins printed.  Baptist Hymnals were purchased and congregational singing encouraged and developed and choir music improved.

The pastor and members of the church realized that the church building has never been  completed and hoped to complete it in the near future, but the opportune time had not presented itself.  In 1929 the depression came, which made it all the more impossible for them to complete the building.  Also, on March 9^th, 1934, another great calamity came to Central; the church caught fire.  The heart of the pastor, members and friends were saddened, and the pastor  weakened severely under the strain.

 Services were held in the Y.M.C.A. while the church was repaired. The church was partially repaired in 1935 at a cost of $3,600.  With joy and gladness the membership returned to the old spot so sacred to their souls.

Rev Ward’s physical condition did not improve after the fire in 1934, as a matter of fact, he became very feeble in health and was ordered to bed by his physician while the church was under repair. Courageously he remained at the helm and labored under this great handicap, until he passed to the great loss to the city and to the membership, because he was a man among men.

Again, Central was in need of a pastor.  The deacons labored under great handicaps, because they had no leader, and the church was heavily indebted at this time.  An unpaid mortgage was facing them, along with other pressing expenses.

A “Thermometer Rally” was launched and enough money was raised to pay off the mortgage.  The  mortgage was burned by the late Deacon George W. Newman, then chairman of the Deacon Board, and Sister Louisa Seay, one of the few chartered members, yet with us.

Rev. Talley came to Central to preach on Easter Sunday morning, 1938, upon the    invitation of the late Deacon Robert B. Wallace.  The congregation was in hushed    silence as he walked rapidly down the aisle, and ascended the steps to the rostrum.  The people doubted at first, the ability of this young man of 28, to be able to cope with the situation.  He sensed their doubts, and asked them to remove the birds they had on the pulpit for Easter decoration, lest they distract from the sermon, he was about to deliver.   Nevertheless, the birds were not removed. He preached out of his heart, and the Lord marvelously used him this morning; so much so that people were rejoicing all over the spacious building.  The membership realized this very day that had found a great leader in Rev. Talley.

Rev. Talley was called to pastor Central, and he preached his first sermon as pastor on June 4^th, 1938.  The first Sunday in July, 1938, his installation services opened with the Dr. C.D. Hubert, a former school teacher of his Morehouse College, and on Sunday, July 17^th, he was impressively installed by his father, Dr. Marshall A. Talley.   The church has prospered more under the leadership of Rev. Talley than ever before.  His record has been most satisfactory from all standpoints.  All the old debts the church owed, when he took over as pastor have been paid, and over 2,000 members have been added to the church; but the most important venture of the pastor was the building program..  This program was started in 1942, upon the request of the pastor, his greatest desire as pastor was to make the church a beautiful place to worship God, and complete the work that was begun in 1922.  Through many hardships he has encountered, today, he was able to realize the fruits of his labor.

We worshiped at the Robert L. Vann School, while the church was being rebuilt.  Our last service was held in the old church, on Watch Night, December 31, 1944.

Let us not forget the Pioneers who paved the way for Central Baptist Church membership through grave sacrifices to complete the building.  They bequeathed the members and friends of this future generation a most noble heritage.  May we ever be thankful to God for those who are still alive and with us, Sister Louisa Seay and Sister Maria Hyson.  May we pledge anew to keep Central a BEACON LIGHT for God on this corner, and keep it ever —-A CHURCH WITH A WELCOME.

After twenty-three years of progressive and peaceful leadership, on October 2, 1961, Dr, Cornell E. Talley offered his resignation as pastor of the Central Baptist Church. On October 16, 1961, a special meeting, the Official Board and the membership of the church   unanimously with regret, heartbreak and prayer, accepted his resignation.

A TIME OF TRIBULATION

At no time in the history of this church has the church faced such a period of trials and tribulation.  It seemed as if Satan hurled everything within his power against the church. It was his intention to ridicule the church and cause it to fall in the eyes of the world.

A pulpit Committee was immediately appointed to supply the pulpit with a new leader. Twelve prospective pastors were extended invitations to come and serve with the knowledge that they were being considered as the potential pastor of the church. Upon the visit of the prospects, the Official Board interviewed them for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not their programs would be in keeping with the needs and aspirations of the congregation, and the program of the Kingdom of Christ.

Among the visiting ministers, Rev. Isaac Green of Texas presented to the Board a more progressive proposal, as well as an outstanding program for Christian education than the other eleven prospects.

Rev. Dr. Green was invited to be the guest preacher for the third Sunday in March, 1962. He accepted the invitation, and truly this day shall long be remembered by the Central Baptist Church family. His theme was, “Give Me This Mountain!” God revealed through him that he was his choice for us.  This third Sunday was a turning point in our history.  The vast majority of our members said, “Let us not look any further, let’s call Rev. Green –now!”

However, the Satonic winds of strife, envy and selfishness were blowing with such a terrific force of discord, that the Official Board felt too wise to allow time and prayer to prevail. Therefore it was necessary to indefinitely delay the calling of Dr. Green as pastor. For a year the restlessness of the membership led the church down some strange and dangerous paths. The very foundation of our existence was shaken.  We even found ourselves in the hands of the unjust Civil Judge.

Three of the visiting pastor prospects were invited for a second visit, Dr. Lamb of Philadelphia, Rev. J.C. Austin of Buffalo, New York, and Dr. Isaac Green of Ft. Worth, Texas.

After these second visits which carried us through 1962 into 1963, the Pulpit Committee met to evaluate the three prospective pastors, and to make a recommendation to the Official Board.  A vote was passed in the meeting of the seven members of the Pulpit Committee which revealed a six to one vote in favor of recommending Dr. Isaac Green to the Board as our next pastor.

A meeting was called for the purpose of extending a call to Dr. Green by the church on March 18, 1963.  At which time a two-third majority of the membership chose Dr. Isaac Green as Pastor.  An authorized letter was immediately sent to Reverend Green by the Church Clerk, both informing him of the church’s choice, and urging him to make an immediate reply.

After replying by mail, Dr. Green came to Central on April 12^th.  He met with the Official Board and gave them his program for review and approval.  After preaching on Easter Sunday, the following Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, each auxiliary president had a private conference with Dr. Green.

He returned to Texas on Wednesday and left the church with assurance that he would become pastor, but a meeting of acceptance would be called for May 20, 1963.

On May 20, 1963, such a meeting was held in which the proposals of the pastor were unanimously accepted, and Rev. Green legally accepted the call and became the Pastor of Central Baptist Church.

The following represents the progressive path followed by the church under the capable leadership of our beloved Dr. Green. A quarterly financial plan was adopted for the purpose of renovating the present facilities and to erect an educational unit to the church.  Some thirty-six thousand dollars, and an average of twelve thousand per year, has been the result.  In keeping with this program, the church purchased the property adjacent to the church, i.e., the Fowler Estate at 2210 and 2212 Wylie Avenue, for the purpose of erecting this building.  The purchase was made by the Trustee Board on October 1, 1963, for the cash sum for $14,286.00.  The houses on the property have since been razed and the property is presently (July, 1966) being used as a parking lot for the congregation. 

This was done at a cost of $1,950.00 In the downstairs church a nursery has been added; the kitchen has been remodeled and refurbished with modern equipment, done at a cost of $15,500.00.  From the period beginning May 20, 1963, to July 1966, the sum of $176,743.05 has been acquired for the operation of the church under the present 

In addition to the organization of the church, Dr. Green had organized a Board of Christian Education, Brotherhood, Men’s Chorus, Fellowship Committee and Bible Training Classes, which has certified more than 200 members of the church. He also instituted systematic financial reports, and the publication of weekly offerings of the membership.

The blueprints for the construction of the educational unit have been provided and a loan commitment secured for the construction thereof.  With God as our help, we press toward our mark of the High-Calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Membership additions: 230

Baptisms: 200

Christian Experience: 330

Three preachers:  Rev. Harold Tinker, Rev. J.T. Walker, and Rev. Hall, were ordained. Four Deacons and two Trustees were added to the Official Board.

A TIME OF TRIUMPH

On September 16, 1996, a special church meeting was held for the purpose of calling Rev. Victor J. Grigsby as our ninth pastor.  Rev. Grigsby was called to preach at age 19 and was licensed to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the  1^st Sunday in October 4, 1981.  He served as the Pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Ford City, PA for ten years before accepting the call to lead the Central Baptist Church congregation. Sunday, December 1, 1996, Rev. Grigsby conducted his first Worship Service as Pastor of Central Baptist Church. Pastor Grigsby entered the Pulpit to the applause of the Central congregation and preached the Theme: “A Changing of the Guard,” Joshua 1:1,2.  Installation services were held the First Sunday in April, 1997 and the President of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc., Dr. William Shaw, preached the Installation message: “Why Do I Holler So Loud When I Preach?”  

Without Pastoral leadership the church had become fragmented and was experiencing leadership tensions.  The Deacon Ministry was fractured, and upon Rev. Grigsby’s arrival established renewed unity within the Deacon Ministry.  As a result of the Board’s new solidarity, the church was whole once again and charged with new direction and acquired new energy for service.  Additional men were called to serve as Deacons and the church began to flourish once again. 

Under Rev. Grigsby’s leadership a spiritual revival took place and the church began to grow rapidly, tripling the membership and expanding the outreach and evangelism ministries.  The church grew to a total asset value in cash, properties, and equipment to over $2,000,000 under Rev. Grigsby’s leadership, and continues to aid the poor, be an advocate for the underserved, and sustain the community.  The church sanctuary has been updated with 21^st century media technology, computer labs, and modern online services.

The Television Broadcast continued for twelve more years until plans for a major church renovation began.  Also, under Rev. Grigsby’s pastoral leadership, a number of properties and parcels were purchased to prepare for the future development sites. 

To move forward with this long-term vision, a non-profit (501c3) was established in 2001: The Central New Development Corporation. A twenty year Master Development Plan was created and introduced four major areas of development.  The first of these areas was a Community Development initiative that included a commercial element and the redevelopment of the newly reconstructed Victory Centre with a total project cost of over $811,000.  Victory Centre is the first of a number of Commercial development strategies.  The second area of development includes a Residential mixed income housing component.  In addition to these two development areas is an Education component that would re-house the K-5 Christian elementary school that enrolled 51 students.  Moreover, within this twenty year development plan is the major Church renovation project. 

So far, the church has completed Phase I of the renovation by developing the new Central parking plaza with the new retaining wall at a total project cost of over $594,000.  In 2016 Phase II will begin with the reconstruction of the back wall and the exterior of the church building. 

In September of 2008, Central honored members whose membership was 50 years or more. The church expanded the Street Ministry to include Community Prayer Walks, Street Revivals, and a Community “Daily Bread” where the feeding of the underserved is carried out. 

In 2009, The Catherine Graham Missionary Society was formed by combining Sadie C. Russ Missionary Society and the Senior Missionary Society and has served foreign missions in Asia, Africa, and Haiti.  The Mission Societies of Central also support the annual Lott Carey Foreign Mission convention.

Rev. Grigsby emphasized the strengthening of Christian Education throughout the church by introducing a number of new classes.  In 2009, “Food For The Spirit”, and S.A.L.T. (Seven  Areas of Life Training) classes began and were taught by the Associate Ministers of Central and other members of the servant leadership team. In 2010 Rev. Grigsby began the M.T.I. (Ministers’ Training Institute) with Ministers’ Training classes for all Associate Ministers. Pastor Grigsby also introduced Spiritual “Boot Camps” for couples, Marriage Enrichment, Relationship Days, and Leadership Breakfasts to ensure the continued spiritual development of leaders and laypersons. 

With great joy and gratitude, God has shown special favor upon us as Pastor Grigsby leads this flock. Over the years under Rev. Victor J. Grigsby’s pastoral leadership he licensed 22 ministers and birthed 12 sons and daughters to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Additionally, 32 men were called to serve as Deacons and 25 women to serve as Deaconess.  We have become a church that carries exciting worship through song, the preached word and personal testimony under Pastor Grigsby’s leadership. Our aim has been to reach the lost, edify the saints and Glorify God.

With 38 life-changing ministries, and a congregation that has taken the vision of their Pastor to a new level, such innovative ministry concepts have been introduced such as, Toys for Tots, Youth Enrichment that includes a Music training and teaching, Academic support and Tutorial Program, Life-Skills training, and Spiritual and Emotional Counseling. 

Men’s, Women’s and Marriage conferences, seminars, and workshops were also incorporated under Rev. Grigsby.

A Fall “Soul Winners” Revival has continued to bring great inspiration to the church and community introducing some of the nation’s most prolific pastors and preachers. 

In Nehemiah fashion, Pastor Grigsby has endeavored to rebuild a people and to rebuild a community through the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. Our pledge remains the same. 

We continue to be “A Church With A Welcome” as it was introduced in 1944.  We have expanded our motto to become:

“A Church With A Vision    

A People With A Prayer   

Worshipping God With A Praise”

Our mission is Christ’s mission, “to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.”  — Isaiah 61:1(b)-3  KJV