Picture this It’s December 1906. Forty souls gather in the modest home of Mr and Mrs SD McQuinn. A new chapter is about to begin for Atherton Baptist Church. This isn’t just any meeting. This is the seed of a vibrant faith community. It’s the birth of the Figueroa Street Chapel the precursor to the beloved Atherton Baptist Church we stand before today.
The Los Angeles Baptist City Mission Society and Reverend CC Pierce pastor of Memorial Baptist Church spearheaded this gathering. Reverend EH Brooks a member of Memorial Baptist Church was chosen as pastor. His wife Mrs Brooks became the Sunday School superintendent. For months this pioneering group met in the McQuinn home. Twenty-five to thirty faithful attendees kept the flame of faith burning bright.
A pivotal moment arrived. Through the tireless efforts of the Los Angeles Baptist City Mission Society and Memorial Baptist Church land was acquired at Forty-ninth Place and Figueroa Street. A portable chapel was erected. A generous donation six hundred dollars from Mrs Hannah Atherton Baldwin secured the first payment. On March 17 1907 Reverend EH Brooks delivered the first sermon in this new sanctuary. The official dedication followed on April 17 1907.
The congregation thrived. On May 12 1907 they officially became known as Figueroa Street Baptist Church with forty-four charter members. Growth continued. Dreams of a permanent building fueled their collective spirit. Ten thousand dollars was the ambitious goal. The church incorporated on May 1 1910. Seven dedicated members served as trustees. Construction began in October 1910. That month’s first Sunday marked a turning point. In recognition of Mrs Hannah Atherton Baldwin’s crucial support the church was renamed Atherton Baptist Church.
The years that followed were filled with growth and devotion. In June 1947 the congregation marked its fortieth anniversary with the purchase of a parsonage at 702 West 48th Street. However growth led to the need for a larger space. A move was inevitable. In September 1954 ten lots were purchased in Hawthorne. This new location at the corner of 116th and Casmir Street became the permanent home of Atherton Baptist Church. Reverend Kenneth Dunkelberger became the first pastor of the new site in November 1955.
In 1976 Reverend Vernon Mitchell assumed pastoral duties. He expanded the church’s reach significantly. In 1985 he founded Atherton Christian School and The ABC Daycare. He served twenty-three years retiring in 1999. The church continued to flourish. In 2001 Reverend Larry D Weaver brought renewed energy to Atherton Baptist Church. Today it stands as a vibrant community with over 1800 members. It’s a testament to the enduring faith of those forty souls who gathered in a modest home over a century ago. This is Atherton Baptist Church a place where faith history and community intertwine.