The story of St. Paul Baptist Church begins on a Saturday in 1952, with a young pastor and sixty-three parishioners. Seventy-three years later, the family is still gathering.
The historical memoirs of St. Paul Baptist Church reflect back to a Saturday in February of 1952, when Rev. C. D. Knight gathered sixty-three souls in Christian fellowship to organize a new family of faith. The story moves from a borrowed sanctuary, to a purchased property, to the building where we still gather.
On a Saturday in early February, Rev. C. D. Knight and sixty-three parishioners assembled themselves in Christian fellowship to organize the St. Paul Baptist Church. The day marked the beginning of a family that would gather, grow, and worship together for generations.
The founding was supported by a fellowship of gospel clergymen who understood the work of planting a church and pledged their counsel.
The new Bethel Baptist Church graciously extended an invitation to St. Paul Baptist Church to worship with them until a place of worship could be secured. It was a small but profound gift — one congregation making room for another, sharing a sanctuary, sharing the work of building the kingdom.
St. Paul, a young church without walls of its own, professed an eagerness to grow.
After a few months at Bethel, the Midway Baptist Church — pastored by Rev. W. C. Barnes — was secured for worship. The young congregation continued under the kindness of older churches, learning the rhythms of weekly gathering and the work of becoming a family.
Then in August of 1953, the property at 1600 Pear Street was purchased. The lot included a house and a parsonage. For the first time, St. Paul had a home of its own.
The original facility on Pear Street, while a great blessing, was not adequate to meet the needs of a growing family. The church remained grateful for what had been provided, and patient in waiting for what would come next.
On October 13, 1963, St. Paul Baptist Church entered into its present sanctuary — the building where, more than sixty years later, the family still gathers each Sunday morning at the corner of Pear Street.
In August of 1992, Rev. Lelious A. Johnson was called to serve as senior pastor — a position he holds to this day. Under his leadership the church has remained anchored in scripture, in worship, and in service to the southeast Dallas neighborhood that has been its home for seven decades.
The story isn't finished. Each Sunday writes another paragraph.
"The church remained grateful for the blessings of Christ Jesus, but the facilities were not adequate to meet the needs of the church."