Doesn’t “a harbor in a storm” sound inviting? That’s how Marjorie Tendle describes Pilgrim Baptist Church. It is Minnesota’s oldest African American church.
Let me tell you about Pilgrim Baptist Church. It began with a group of African Americans seeking a better life. They came from Boone County, Missouri to St. Paul. These travelers called themselves “pilgrims.”
Robert T. Hickman was among them. He was a former slave. Hickman’s master taught him to read and preach. In St. Paul, Hickman started prayer services in homes. For several years, they met in rented spaces.
Finally, on November 15, 1866, Pilgrim Baptist Church was formally organized. Hickman and others held a baptism in the Mississippi River. This marked the end of three years of hard work. Pilgrim Baptist was Minnesota’s first African American church. Soon, they built a gathering place on Sibley Street. It could seat 300 people.
In 1928, the congregation moved to its current building. It is located at 732 Central Avenue West. Over the years, it has been a place of worship and a community center.
Pilgrim’s pastors and members built the Twin Cities black support system. They formed local NAACP chapters in 1913. They also established the National Urban League in 1923. Furthermore, they built the Hallie Q. Brown Center in 1929. It is now known as the Martin Luther King Center.
In the 1950s, church leaders pushed for a public school. That school is now Maxfield Elementary. In the 1960s, Interstate 94 cut through the Rondo neighborhood. Pastor Floyd Massey Jr. and the congregation fought to save neighborhood connections. This resulted in pedestrian bridges over the highway. In the ’70s, the church pushed for another school. It is now Benjamin E. Mays.
Pilgrim celebrated its 150th anniversary on October 28th. Church history shines down from stained glass windows. They depict past ministers. The original wooden pews have seen much use.
In 1975, stained glass windows portraying past ministers of Pilgrim and Dr. Martin Luther King III were installed.
In 1916, the St. Paul Ministerial Alliance was formed at Pilgrim. Rev. Murrell became its first secretary. This organization is the forerunner of the now powerful Ministerial Alliance.
Dr. Lee Ward Harris led Pilgrim into a new era of religious awareness. In 1922, he accepted the call to Pilgrim. He organized the Vacation Bible School program in 1922. He directed the planning and building of the present sanctuary and Fellowship Hall in 1928. He was editor and publisher of our first church bulletin called the “Informer.”
Mrs. Harris coined the slogan, “Pilgrim, the Church of Lofty Friendship.”
Rev. S. E. Ware remodeled the sanctuary and parsonage. A new spirit of giving was created and many new members were added to the rolls.
Floyd Massey, Jr. began his ministry at Pilgrim in 1944. The church roster was brought up to date. A budget system was introduced.
Under Rev. Brown’s ministry, Pilgrim purchased a bus and organized the Bus Ministry in May 1975 for program development.
Pilgrim Baptist Church has a rich history. It started with brave individuals seeking freedom. It continues to serve as a beacon of hope. It stands as a testament to the power of faith and community.