By Anna Yoder | Columnist
In my ‘backyard’ sits an impressive historic stone church that I have admired since moving to the Northside. On Sundays, joyful worship music and singing can be heard emanating from this church and after service, worshippers file out dressed in their very finest. I also cannot help but notice the sincere fellowship among the congregation and their genuine love for each other. This beautiful church is the Metropolitan Baptist Church founded in 1850 and is “Western Pennsylvania’s oldest black Baptist church.”
On Nov. 9 of this year, Metropolitan Baptist Church will celebrate its 175th anniversary. Now that is really something to sing about!
A long-time member Sister Maxine Cullens shared with me a historical glimpse into Metropolitan Baptist Church’s storied past. This abridged history has also been published in the church’s 170th Anniversary Celebration program booklet.
“According to the minutes of the 11th Annual Meeting of the Pittsburgh Baptist Association ‘the First Colored Baptist Church of Allegheny City made an application and was received as a member… on June 2, 1850’” with 20 members. During the first four years, the First Colored Baptist Church grew and was able to double their membership.
Then, “from 1854 through 1867, the First Colored Baptist Church was absent from the minutes of the annual meeting of the Pittsburgh Baptist Association….” It was therefore assumed “...that the membership scattered and/or joined other Baptist churches, particularly the Sandusky Street Baptist Church.”
According to Sister Cullens, the Sandusky Street Baptist Church worship site ministered to many including “runaway slaves.” As a safe haven, several members of the church (who were former slaves themselves) ministered to those seeking asylum and taught them how to read and write.
In 1868, 16 members from the Sandusky Street Baptist Church united with “others” to reorganize the First Colored Baptist Church of Allegheny City. It is conjectured that the “others” were “descendants of the original 20 members who established the [original] First Colored Baptist Church of Allegheny City in 1850.” The First Colored Baptist Church was alive again and thriving and the church held onto this name through 1870.
During the early years of this church, the congregation worshiped at different locations in Allegheny City and in addition to the First Colored Baptist Church name, the church was also known by several other names including Zion Baptist Church and the Green Street Baptist Church. Over the years, there was a great deal of activity with leadership changes, membership expansion, and property purchases. The church, like many others during this time, also experienced financial struggles “to hold up the banner of Christ.” Yet this church persevered and prospered and in 1891, the church had a seating capacity for 250 members and all debts were paid!
It is interesting to note too that until 1891, the Green Street Baptist Church congregation consisted of blacks and whites. The abridged history of Metropolitan Baptist Church published in the 170th Anniversary Celebration program booklet stated that in 1891, “being fully convinced that the Colored Baptists can be better operated separately as a body than they can together with the whites, [the church] ask[ed] for letters of dismission.” These letters were submitted to the Annual Session of the Pittsburgh Baptist Association and were granted.
On Jan. 29, 1904, the church adopted its current name as the Metropolitan Baptist Church.
During the transition, a lot on Sampson Street (now Sampsonia Way) originally sold to Noah Carter in 1903 for the purpose of building a laundry, was deeded to the Metropolitan Baptist Church instead. At this site, a “splendid edifice” was erected and ready for worship, education, and fellowship in 1905 — thanks to Mr. Carter!
Sister Cullens also shared that during this time, the neighborhood around the church continued to expand with businesses as did the Metropolitan Baptist Church congregation which soared to 325 members — “one of the largest in the city.” From 1905 until 1981, there were several pastors of the Metropolitan Baptist Church and its membership once again continued to grow and flourish.
In 1981, Reverend Lacey F. Richardson, Ph.D. became the newest pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church. Until his retirement, Rev. Richardson shepherded his flock for an incredible 42 years! On one occasion when he stopped by my backyard, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting the charismatic and kind Rev. Richardson who took the time to chat with me and invite me to his church. Outreach and neighborhood fellowship is a huge part of this church and I, along with other neighbors, have been invited and welcomed to their community day picnics. This was always a special day for my husband and me, a fun way to socialize with and get to know our church neighbors, share great fellowship, and enjoy equally great food.
During Rev. Richardson’s tenure as pastor, major capital improvements and acquisitions continued from 1982-1985. This included “an extension to the edifice, which moved the sanctuary to ground level….” This specific improvement was a blessing to those who carried the caskets of the dearly departed up the stairs to the second-floor sanctuary in previous years!
Other additions included a floor to ceiling glass entry, stained glass windows, new pianos, a kitchen, fellowship room, and robe room for the music department — the list of renovations and additions goes on and on. The expanded sanctuary in the church annex was completed for Metropolitan Baptist Church’s 122nd anniversary to better accommodate its congregation.
In full view of the vestibule of this historic church, you will find a large stone engraved “Metropolitan Church est. 1850 — Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church — Matthew 16-18” which has been placed on a red velvet cloth and protected in a glass case. Ms. LaDora Jamison (former trustee board member and the 160th anniversary’s program chairperson) discovered and selected the stone from an old demolished Allegheny County building. Engraved by Donatelli as a donation to the church, the crafted commemorative stone was the “something special” for this special anniversary and remains in the church vestibule to this day. Very appropriate for a church that has lasted 175 years!
Today there are five deacons who minister to the congregation and lead the Sunday service. Deacon Willie Jones Jr. serves as the Chairman of the Board of Deacons. There is also a board of trustees with Chairman Norris Cullens at the helm. My husband and I cross paths most often with Trustee Norris Cullens who regularly can be seen working at the church with Deacon Jones and always offers a warm smile, friendly wave of hello or kind words from the parking lot where he parks his truck near our back yard. With a current congregation of about 120, Metropolitan Baptist Church is as strong as ever.
Deacon Jones graciously agreed to give me a tour of this historic church which is as beautiful and welcoming as the people who are part of this church. Starting with the gorgeous stone edifice rising to the heavens at the top of Reddour Street and the wonderful historic church photographs that adorn the walls, to the warm sanctuary wooden ceiling, stained glass windows, and large pipe organ — one feels God’s presence everywhere in this church. You can see the love of God in Deacon Jones as he beams when he talks about his faith, his church, and God. A very spiritual man, Deacon Jones described to me that “his sword” — the Bible — is at the center of his heart and of this church. Deacon Jones also emphasized that everyone should be “treated the same” and that in this church, “everybody is somebody.”
In addition to regular church service, Metropolitan Baptist Church has several community programs to help their members and neighbors: Missionary programs to provide disaster relief such as Brother’s Brother Foundation, a Benevolent Fund that dispenses to the needy and provides tax assistance, a food distribution center, Youth Sundays when member students are acknowledged, college grants for member students, a clothing collection center, and adult bible study and head start classes along with various workshop and training classes.
To kick off their 175th anniversary celebration — whose theme is “Celebrating the Great I Am — A Charge to Keep: I Have Faith and Courage” — Metropolitan Baptist Church will have a revival beginning on Nov. 4 and ending on Nov. 7. Clergy from several surrounding area churches will participate in this epic church revival such as Dr. Brenda Gregg from Destiny of Faith Church, Rev. Bernard Tench from Second Baptist Church, and Rev. June Jeffries from New Life Baptist Church. The churches and ministries that will be represented during the revival are also numerous and include Brown Chapel AME, Victory Baptist Church, Pittsburgh Higher Ground Ministries, and Deliverance Center Original Church of God.
After the 175th anniversary church service on Nov. 9, church members, former members, friends, and dignitaries will convene at Greentree’s Double Tree Hotel for an extraordinary banquet of fellowship and celebration. To this day, “there are descendants of charter members” who are current congregation members and continue this historic legacy of 175 years.
Always welcoming and inviting, Deacon Jones left me with this message for our Northside readers: “Our doors are always open.” So, if you are looking for a church and might not have connected with one yet; visit Metropolitan Baptist Church — you will surely be welcomed and be somebody!
Metropolitan Baptist Church is located at 22 Sampsonia Way.
