Baptist Temple Church

Church History

Baptist Temple Church History

It was in the year 1917 that the Reverend John Clinton organized a church. The name given was
Morning Star Baptist Church. Rev Clinton resigned in 1918. The Reverend Barber served as
Interim Pastor until 1919.

Later in 1919, the church was re-organized by the Reverend Mark Harris. It was at that time
that the church was incorporated under the name of BAPTIST TEMPLE CHURCH. The
current church building was then purchased for $15,000.00. Rev. Harris resigned in 1921,
leaving Baptist Temple without a pastor until 1923.

The new pastor, Reverend Edward Harris, served for eight years before relinquishing his
leadership in 1931.

In 1933 Rev. Harris was succeed by the Reverend Sylvanus Brown who served until 1941.

On May 20, 1942, a new leader was called. The Reverend Eugene Juno Richardson became the
pastor. Rev. Richardson remained Pastor until his retirement in December 1978.

On Sunday, October 7, 1979, the Reverend Walter Paul Matthews became Baptist Temple’s next
Pastor. Rev. Matthews served as pastor until September 1983.

On Sunday, November 3, 1985, the Reverend Willie E. Whack was installed as the seventh
pastor of the church. He resigned from the pastorate in June 1994.

On Sunday, December 3, 1995, Rev. Cornell N. Williams, M.Div. became the eighth pastor of
Baptist Temple Church and served with honor and distinction until his retirement on December
5, 2021. Following his retirement, Rev. Williams has continued to serve the Lord as pastor
emeritus. On Sunday, August 6, 2023, Rev. Darryl Scott, Sr. became interim pastor.

After several years of prayer for new leadership, the Baptist Temple Church membership elected,
Rev. Daryl W. Winston, Esq., M.Div., as the ninth pastor marking a significant new chapter in
the life of this historic church.

Baptist Temple Church

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