We welcome you to come as you are and worship with
us every Sunday 9 am.
SBC CHURCH HISTORY
THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH of HARLEM, INCORPORATED
Early in 1922, a small band of Southerners who had since moved to New York City got
together to organize a church. The place of meeting and worship was located on East
134th Street.
The Rev. James Macon Osborne was called as the first pastor of this fledgling church.
After Rev. Osborne accepted the pastorate of the Church, he took charge at once, using
an outlined program as a guide during his 17 years of administration, and joined the
National Baptist Convention USA, Incorporated.
In October of 1923, Rev. Osborne suggested the organization and official name of The
Southern Baptist Church of Harlem, which was readily accepted by the membership.
The name, The Southern Baptist Church, had been used temporarily and was made
permanent. The Southern Baptist Church of Harlem was incorporated with the state of
New York in 1930.
The early Southern Baptist Church consisted almost entirely of migrants from Georgia.
The Church was not only a place where they sang and prayed together, but also a
home away from home where old friendships could be renewed and perpetuated, a
place of help in times of need and a place of solace in times of sorrow.
Rev. Dr. C. B. Wilson assumed the pastorate on the second Sunday in January 1940.
The Southern Church was at 13 West 134th Street at that time. Rev. Dr. Wilson came
to us when we were worshipping at the second rented site on the same street with
larger accommodations than the site at 11 East 134th Street. Dr. Wilson succeeded in
finding larger quarters in which to conduct worship services. The newer site was at 103
Morningside Avenue, which was purchased on April 14, 1941. The Church Family
moved into its new home on April 19, 1941, and at which time the fold numbered
approximately 125 members. By the time of our 28th Anniversary, our membership had
grown to a quite sizable number.
As the membership continued to grow, the site at 103 Morningside Avenue could no
longer accommodate the massive crowds which worshipped with us. Dr. Wilson and his
Deacons set out to find still another place more suitable for worship and religious
activity.
The building at the present site, 12-16 West 108th Street, was purchased. After much sacrifice and many deliberations, members and friends of the Southern Church marched to the location at 12-16 West 108th Street, New York, N.Y. 10025, on October 4, 1953, from 103 Morningside Avenue. On May 11, 1959, the last dollar owed on our new Church Home had been paid in full. Rev. Dr. C. B. Wilson served the Southern Baptist Church family for thirty (30) rewarding years and was called to his heavenly reward by God.
The building at the present site, 12-16 West 108th Street, was purchased. Members
and friends of the Southern Church marched to the location at 12-16 West 108th Street,
New York, N.Y. 10025, on October 4, 1953, from 103 Morningside Avenue. On May 11,
1959, the last dollar owed on our new Church Home had been paid in full. Rev. Dr. C. B.
Wilson served the Southern Baptist Church family for thirty (30) rewarding years and
was called to his heavenly reward by God.
Two years following the transition of Dr. Wilson, Rev. Benjamin J. Whipper, Jr., was
called to lead our Church Family. He officially assumed the pastorate of the Southern
Baptist Church of Harlem on Mother’s Day, 1972. In his own way, Pastor Whipper
introduced to the Southern Church Family numerous undertakings for its spiritual
enhancement and growth.
The purchase of the apartment building (that was vacant) that is known as the C. B.
Wilson Memorial Building at 18 West 108th Street. In addition, Rev. Whipper led the
renovation process of our church building, originally at a cost of $250,000.00, not
including the cost of minor repairs at that time. In November 1988, the C. B. Wilson
Memorial Building was completed, and the apartments were fully occupied.
Rev. Whipper was a prolific preacher and was known nationally for his sound gospel
message that the Lord gave him; because of this, he put Southern on the map as a
great house and people.
In 1998, the Reverend Eugene King was installed as the 4th Pastor of the Southern
Baptist Church. Rev. Eugene King, during his 16 years as Pastor, developed many
ministries to meet the needs of the membership and the community, and we supported
a ministry in the Caribbean country of Haiti.
Reverend King earned his Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree at Union Theological
Seminary in New York, and the Disciples of Southern regarded him as a great teacher.
The voice of God was heard by the people of God of the Southern Baptist Church, and
the call was extended to Pastor Keith W. Roberson on June 9, 2007, to become the fifth
(5th) Pastor of the Southern Baptist Church. He was installed on Sunday, September
23rd of the same year.
Under Rev. Dr. Roberson‘s pastorate, many ministries were birthed, and a renewed
witness to the community at large has been birthed. Building upon the foundation that
has been laid before him, the Southern Baptist Church Family continues to feed the
needy weekly, has supported a women's shelter in the area through the Women's
Ministry, and the Men's Ministry has taken to the streets to give coats, blankets, gloves, and scarves to homeless men.
Numerous renovations to the existing church building have been made, and Pastor
Roberson has led The Southern Baptist Church of Harlem through the COVID-19
Pandemic. This has caused us to enhance our technology and be more creative
regarding worship times and locations within our building.
We thank our God for His Spirit leading and guiding The Southern Baptist Church of
Harlem for more than a century, and we look forward to His continuing to do so until His
return through His Son, Jesus the Christ. At that time, we will meet Disciples of
Southern who transitioned before us and other family members and friends and be with
God for eternity. To God be the glory for the things he has done.
