Mt. Lebanon Missionary Baptist Church

Sunday School: 9:30-1">Mt. Lebanon Missionary Baptist Church

The Oldest National Baptist Church in the State Of Tennessee

Early Years: 1843 – 1865

It was in October 1843 around the 20th of the month, that seven persons of color banded together to organize the Mount Lebanon Missionary Baptist Church. These seven persons were the Reverend Edmund Kelly, the Reverend Richardson Sanderson, Dyer Johnson, Reuben Polk, Dempsey (Demps) Cherry, Anna Cherry (husband and wife); and Eliza Cherry Webster (daughter of Dempsey and Anna Cherry). Two of the seven, Edmund Kelly and Dyer Johnson, had not yet gained their full freedom. However, the other members were free blacks at the time of Mt. Lebanon organization. The pastor, who was white, of the First Baptist Church aided these persons in their efforts. The moving spirit in the organization of the church was its first pastor, Rev. Edmund Kelly.

The chairman of the first Deacon Board was Dyer Johnson. He paved the way for the progress of the church. Deacon Johnson paid sixty of the one hundred dollars needed to purchase the first site for the church and the other Deacons Board Members paid ten dollars each. This site was located at 1020 Mapleash Avenue, and remained the place of worship until the church built its present structure at the corner of East Eighth and Glade Streets. In 1867, the church sold R.G. Johnson (son of Dyer Johnson) the original church site for two hundred dollars. Today the site still remains in the possession of the Johnson Family.

The newer church building was erected in 1885 during the pastorate of Rev. John Gilmore. Jessie Sims and Washington Harrison, both members of the church, were the lead carpenters in the building of present day Mount Lebanon. While working on the building Bro. Harrison was struck on the head by a hatchet that had fallen from the roof. The accident, causing serious injuries to Bro. Harrison, eventually lead to his death. His funeral was held in the unfinished church. Thus, Washington Harrison was the first person to be funeralized in the present church.

The completion of the church in 1885 came about by the inspirational and zealousness of these seven people. Women such as Annie Cherry and Eliza Webster were moving spirits in the progress of the church. Other early church members included Frank Wickfall, Milton Leftwich and Cyrus Webster (husband of Eliza Webster).

From the time of the organization of the church in 1843 until 1865, the church had only two pastors, Reverends Edmund Kelly and Richard Sanderson.

Period of Construction and Turmoil: 1866-1901

This period in the church’s history resulted in several splits of the church. The first split occurred under the leadership of Rev. John S. Gilmore, who was one of the builders of the present church. After a dispute, Rev. Gilmore left and built the St. John Baptist Church across from Mt. Lebanon on Glade Street. The second split came about in the late 1800’s when Rev. Baalim Frierson left to organize the First Missionary Baptist Church, located in the one hundred block on East Eighth Street. The third and final split took place in 1900 after Rev. Nicholson returned from a conference and decided to split with the church and organize the East Eighth Street Church of God. In addition to the pastors previously named, Reverends Peter Cross, Rev. Richard Sanderson and J. Blakeshire served the church during this thirty-five year period.

The first wedding in the church was in July 1889 when John B. Gordon married Samantha Dickerson in a ceremony performed by Rev. Gilmore.

Period of Change: 1901 – Present

The church underwent several leadership changes that varied in length. The following pastors served during this period: the Reverends S.H.Johnson, 1901; C.A. Ward, 1902; J.B. Spratlin. 1905; B.J. Ivory, 1911; W.T. Green, 1914; J.W. Robinson, 1916; W.C. Kelly, 1917; L.R. Womack, 1918; L.A. McEwen,1919; B.L. Campbell, 1920; J.W. Lee, 1921; B.L. Brocks,1926; D.M. Ealey,1930; L.R.W. Johnson,1934; I.T. Mack,1936; S.M. Weaver,1939; M.F. Riley,1942; Raymond White, 1945; R.L. Lillard, 1947; D.L. Dunlap, 1948; James S. Harris, 1950; J.R. Bridgewater, 1956; and David E. Williams, Sr., 1963; Rev. Gregory C. Givens, 2015.

Two leadership changes came once again as Rev. David E. Williams, Sr. retired from the pulpit at Mt. Lebanon after fifty years of faithful service in November 2014 and Rev. Gregory C. Givens became the twenty-fourth pastor of this great church since 1901 on March 22, 2015.

In the years ranging from 1998 to the present, Mount Lebanon advanced in her leadership ministries. Rev. William Johnson (Dyer Johnson’s great-grandson), Rev. Joseph Brown, Sr., Minister Eugene Whitaker, Minister Felix Payne, Rev. Terrence Blakesleay, Minister Samuel Jordan, Minister Ruby Johnson, Minister Constance Crawford, Minister David E. Williams, Jr., Minister Grady Riddle and Rev. Gregory C. Givens became Associate Ministers of the church.

The Period of Reconstruction and Acquisition: 1963-Present

Mount Lebanon underwent extensive reconstruction during late 1950 to 1965. The parsonage (acquired in 1954) and six additional sites were purchased, including the Education Building and the Grill. In 1993 the Education Building, also known as the G.A. Newbern/Eural Cofer Building, was remodeled to include the church office complex and study areas.

In 1997, the David E. Williams/Bruce Barnett Prayer Garden was developed on the west side of the church campus. This garden was artistically designed and developed through gifts from Mrs. Stella Barnett, in memory of her husband, Bruce and Mrs. Eddie M. Jones. Today it remains a place of total bliss, a place to contemplate and to pray, and feel the presence of God our Father. Also, Mrs. Cornelia Braden had the installation of a door on the east side of the church in remembrance of her husband, Jordan and her sister, Gladys Allen.

New choir robes were purchased in 1999, as well as a commercial type refrigerator; new tile laid in the kitchen; painting of the church exterior and new furniture for office spaces. In 2000, the church was able to purchase a van and acquire additional property on the south side of the building. The church was also one of the few churches asked to be a part of the Majestic Middle Tennessee Fall Tour of Historical Churches. Another two additional pieces of property on the south side of the building was purchased in 2001.

In February 2002, what seemed to have been a tragedy turned into a blessing. Heavy rainfall caused the church basement to be filled with four to five feet of water and six to eight inches of water in the Newbern/Cofer building. Major renovation was done to both buildings which included stud walls in the church basement to be replaced with eight-inch blocks; partitions for classrooms to be made; replacement of the basement ceiling; and the installment of a handicap restroom in the upper level of the church, as well as other works to meet the needs of the damage buildings. It was most important to remove the six or seven wooden post that had carried the weight of the building since 1885. These posts were replaced with six inch steel pipes.

In May of 2003 water entered into the church building once again due to another flood. Although damage was done, the pastor and members continued to work faithfully in the refurbishing of the church.
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There have been many changes from 2004 to the present at Mt. Lebanon. In keeping with her legacy, improvements and renovations to the church, the education building, (as well as other sites belonging to Mt. Lebanon), have been and are continuously being done. The most recent addition to Mt. Lebanon was the purchasing of the old garage next to the G.A.Newbern/Eural Cofer Building.

Through faith of its deeply-seated leaders and members, Mt. Lebanon, “the oldest National Baptist Church in Tennessee”, remains a conspicuous landmark in the history of the Baptist in Tennessee. The church maintains its vitality as it continues to serve as a source of spiritual and social energy in the Columbia community.