About Us

HISTORY OF GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH OF GERMANTOWN

In the fall of 1888, a small group of “prayer warriors” met for weekly prayer meetings in a small room somewhere on the Keyser Estate, bounded by Greene, Upsal, and Duval Streets, and Wayne Avenue.  The group, who later became known as the “Grace Mission” included Mesdames Rebecca Maye, Harriet Myles, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Courtney, Mr. and Mrs. E. Stockey, and Mr. J. Richardson. 

After realizing that the Keyser Estate meeting room had become inadequate to accommodate the growing number of worshipers, these loyal Christian followers arranged to rent a larger facility.  Vernon Hall located at the southeast corner of Germantown Avenue and Price Street became the center for their worship activities.  Dr. John Love, who was then the Pastor of Second Baptist Church tutored Reverend T. P. Wilson to prepare him for becoming the pastor of this group which was known as “Grace Mission”.  This Mission was under the care of the Zion Baptist Church, then located at 12th Street above Melon (now at Broad and Venango Streets, Reverend Harold Wayland, Pastor). 

In 1892 the “Grace Mission” was organized and set apart as a duly recognized Baptist Church, to be known as the Grace Baptist Church of Germantown, with the Reverend T. P. Wilson as its first pastor.

The Reverend John Reed was called to become pastor of the Grace Baptist Church of Germantown on December 18, 1894.  In 1896 the congregation bought a site on Sharpnack Street and worship was begun there on November 6th of that year.  The Trustees were Messrs. Robert Moore, Joe Johns, Alex Campbell, and Henry Collins.  The original building was enlarged in 1897.  Dr. Love of Second Baptist, Germantown donated pews, Bibles, and hymnals.  When Reverend Reed resigned in 1902, the congregation was worshiping in Johnson Hall on Johnson Street, as the church building was being remodeled.

Reverend Wingfield was the pastor of Grace from 1902-04.  Reverend Wingfield’s successor to the pastorate of Grace was the Reverend R. L. Robinson (1904-10). Deacon Daniel Goode and his wife, Mrs. Ida L. Goode were endorsed by vote of the church in January 1908 to search in a legal capacity for the clear deed to the church property. The mortgage on the property was burned on the Third Sunday in March, 1908. The new minister, Reverend R. L. Lewis (1910-12) led the congregation in a financial drive($500) to finish remodeling the church in order to return to the building within 30 days. 

The next pastor, Reverend Haskins, served from November 1912 to May 1915.  When the Reverend Patrick Hughes came to “Grace” as the seventh pastor in the fall of 1915, once again the church edifice was being remodeled.  The congregation worshiped in Bell Hall, Southwest Corner, Germantown Avenue and Sharpnack Street while the building was undergoing renovation.

On February 9, 1921 the Grace Baptist Church of Germantown was granted a Charter of Incorporation by the general Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  The seven trustees listed on the Charter are:  John H. Lee, James, Johnson, Alonza Jennings, Austin Harrison, Felix E. Posey, Zeb Johnson, and Alexander Harris.  John H. Lee, Austin Harrison, and Felix Posey acting as representatives of the trustees and the church signed the Charter.

Under Dr. Hughes leadership, the present Sharpnack Street edifice was built in 1923.  The church secured a mortgage from Mr. Henry P. Schneider for $17,000.00.  Dr. and Mrs. Hughes labored at Grace for more than a score of years. (In March 1934 Reverend Hughes was honored for fifty years of service as a minister.) 

During the “depression years”, in the 1920’s, because of Grace’s members’ unemployment, under employment, and discouragement, the church was not able to meet the payments on the mortgage. Consequently, by 1938, the church owed Mr. Schneider, the mortgage holder, $11,500.00, including $2,500.00 compound interest.

In February 1938, the Reverend Jeremiah A. Wright, who had just completed his studies at Virginia Union University for the Bachelor of Divinity degree accepted an invitation by Dr. Hughes to come to Grace to serve as acting pastor.  Shortly thereafter, on a motion by Dr. Hughes, the Grace Baptist Church called Reverend Wright to be its pastor.  Dr. Hughes remained a member of the church as pastor emeritus until his passing.  Reverend Wright was installed as pastor of Grace Baptist Church of Germantown on May 1, 1939.  The congregation numbered less than one hundred when Pastor Wright was installed. When he accepted the call to Grace Church in 1938, the congregation offered a salary of $15 per week. There were many weeks when the offering amounted to only $7 or a few cents more.  The pastor and his wife fond a room for $3.50 a week, and lived within their means.

The $11,500.00 mortgage, which was on the Sharpnack Street property when Reverend Wright arrived, was paid off by 1945.  All other indebtedness was paid off.  Pastor Wright led the congregation to establish a Building Fund.  Throughout his ministry at Grace, Reverend Wright was supported by a devoted and loving family.  As the First Lady of Grace Baptist Church of Germantown, Dr. Mary H. Wright endeared herself to the congregation through her Christian character, her dedicated services, and her faithful commitment to Christian stewardship.

During the “fifties”, as a result of population changes, the membership of Grace dramatically increased.  Unable to expand on Sharpnack Street or to build on a site owned by the church on Montana Street, the church sought other options, which would mean moving from the old site.  At a special meeting called to discuss moving to a new site if one could be found, Mother Ida L. Goode made a motion that the church move to a new site.  Through the efforts of Deacon Fletcher H. Townsend, Deacon William M. McCoy, Sr. (Chair, Board of Deacons), and Pastor Wright, the Geshick Flower Shop and properties on Johnson Street were purchased.  Settlement was made on April 21, 1960, with Deacon William McCoy, Sr., Trustee William H. Jackson, Trustee Austin Harrison (Chair, Board of Trustees), and Pastor Wright represented the Church at the settlement.  The new site on Johnson Street, including the two dwelling house, was a cash purchase for $61,000.00. In December 1960, a Capital Fund Drive was launched under the direction of Reverend Horace M. Taylor, an American Baptist Convention professional fundraiser. The campaign goal was to secure $75,000.00 in pledges.  It closed with $165,000.00.  When the campaign was over the church had actually raised over $100,000.00.  A second Building Fund Campaign was initiated in December 1963, directed by Dr. George Salstrand, also an American Baptist Convention fundraiser. The final return amounted o $130,000.00.  In March 1966 work on the new church building began at an estimated construction cost of $545,000.00.  The groundbreaking ceremony was held at the Johnson Street site on Sunday, March 20, 1966.  Representing the church were Deacon William R. Smith, Sr., Chair, and Mr. William T. Owens, Co-Chair of the Building Committee in supervising the construction.

The Cornerstone Laying Service at the new site took place on Sunday, May 28, 1967 at 3:30 p.m.
The box holding the memorabilia, which was place in the cornerstone, was made by Deacon William R. Smith, Sr.

The Service of Dedication for the new building occurred on Sunday, May 26, 1968 at 4:00 p.m.

The Service of Dedication for the Christian Education Building, named in memory of the late Ida L. Goode, took place on Sunday, May 25, 1975.  On Sunday, May 27, 1977 the Mortgage Burning Service for the Christian Education Building was held.  The Ida L. Goode Building was constructed at a cost of $307,000.00.  In 1977 the annual budget of Grace was $75,000.00, more than seventy times its 1938 budget.  The value of the new building completed in 1977 was $1,400,000.00.

At the 1979 Annual Church Meeting the church voted to accept Reverend Wright’s resignation, effective June 30, 1980.  On June 30, 1980, after 42 years of faithful and committed leadership to Grace Baptist Church of Germantown, Pastor Wright retired.  For a brief period, July 1980 through May 1981, Dr. E. Theodore Jones, an Associate Minister of Salem Baptist Church, Jenkintown, served as Interim Pastor.

After a diligent search, much prayer, and patience, the Search Committee, under Chairmanship of Deacon Carl Dorsey presented the name of Dr. G. Daniel Jones to the congregation for consideration.  On October 18, 1981, at a church meeting called for that purpose, the church membership by a 96% vote accepted the Search Committee’s recommendation to extend a call to Dr. G. Daniel Jones, Pastor of Zion Baptist Church, Portsmouth, Virginia.  Dr. Jones accepted the call in a letter dated January 6, 1982, which was read to the congregation on January 10, 1982, and was installed as the ninth pastor of Grace Baptist Church on May 23, 1982.  Grace Baptist Church has shown tremendous strides since the arrival of Dr. Jones.  In 2002 Grace installed The Reverend Merle D. McJunkin, as its first Assistant Pastor/Minister of Christian Education. 

In 1989 the balcony in the sanctuary was constructed, additional second floor office suites, the elevator, and ramp, the organ console, the digital computerized Praeludium Gallante organ.  The installation of handicap accessible restrooms and the carillon in the bell tower was given as a gift from Mr. and Mrs. William C. (Liller) Green.  The Van/Transportation Ministry began, and significant staff development has taken place.  The Johnson/Emlen Street parking lot was purchased and improved.  Additional work to upgrade the church kitchen, and restrooms in the lower level was completed.

This is not a full account of our church’s history.  For a more detailed review of the history of the Grace Baptist Church of Germantown, please refer to the Centennial Journal, 1892-1992.