THE HISTORY 

OF

GREATER MOUNT CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH

1933 - 2015

5202 AVENUE K

GALVESTON, TEXAS

 

 

In 1933 Reverend L. E. Brown resigned from Mount Olive Baptist Church (Galveston, Texas) and several members of the church followed him.  Reverend Brown and his fellow worshipers met for weekly Prayer meetings in the home of Mrs. Clara Black at 3718 Avenue I.  Seeing the need for a larger place as the number of worshipers increased, Reverend Brown was granted permission to meet at Carter’s Temple C. M. E Church.  The number of attendees continued to increase and Reverend Brown secured a larger venue, Progress Hall at 26th and Avenue L.  It was with this attendee increase, the group of worshipers decided to formally establish a church. 

 

On January 22, 1935, the Reverend W. M. Sykes of Houston, then Moderator of the Southwest Central Association, organized the church with forty worshipers present.  A few of the founding members were: Reverend L. E. Brown, Reverend G. W. Singleton, Sis. Loretta Singleton, Bro. J. M. Minson, Sis. Katie Minson, Sis. Jerry Ross, Sis. Rosie Williams, Sis. Maggie W. Christwell, Sis. Lynn Clarkston and Sis. Clara Black. All of the worshipers at that meeting presented letters to appoint a pastor and Reverend L. E. Brown became the first pastor. A name for the church was submitted and approved by the congregation at that meeting.

 

Reverend Brown immediately sought to find a permanent home for the church.  The present lot, 5202 Avenue K, was purchased for $100 and a tent was erected for worship services.  In May 1935, under Reverend Brown’s leadership, a building fund program was established. By August 11, 1935, the congregation held service in a wooden structure. Reverend Brown served faithfully until October 20, 1936, summiting his resignation to pastor another church.

 

Reverend O. L. Helgman became the new pastor of the church and under his leadership many improvements were made to the wooden structure. Reverend Helgman served as pastor until September 28, 1941, leaving to pastor another church. 

 

Reverend W. A Joshua served the church for one year, leaving to serve another church. 

 

In 1942 the Reverend F. A. Allen was called to pastor the church.  His work and service to Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church are unsurpassed, in addition to his outstanding leadership. During his tenure of twenty-two years, a debt of $20,000 was cleared, with the note burning ceremony held on August 18, 1943.  Under his leadership a parsonage was erected at the cost of $6,000.  Renovations to the church included: remodeling the interior, adding carpet, adding brick to its exterior, placing a corner stone on the structure, the purchase of two forty passenger busses, new pews purchased and air condition units installed. The Moody Family of Galveston, Texas, donated a Hammond Organ to the church in memory of Mother Esther Darkins, a faithful member of Greater Mount Calvary Church. After the purchase of the property on the west side of the church, a building was purchased and placed on the property, becoming the Fellowship Hall and Youth Center.  Also under Reverend F. A. Allen’s leadership the Junior Church, the Junior Choir, the Junior Deacons, the G. A. Girls, Junior Ushers and the College Aid were organized.  This is a limited list of Reverend F. A. Allen’s accomplishments as the church’s leader.  Reverend F. A. Allen also worked in District and National Baptist organizations, serving as the leader of the Southwest Conference Association.   May 2, 1965, Reverend F. A. Allen resigned to lead another church. 

 

On July 29, 1965 the congregation elected Reverend M. L. Ford its new pastor.  Under his leadership the church continued to grow in membership and financially. Under his tenure, the church’s interior repainted, glassed doors were installed for the front entry to the church, central air installed, concrete sidewalks refurbished, fellowship hall extended, restrooms added to the fellowship hall, kitchen renovated, dining tables and chairs purchased and new air condition units purchased for the fellowship hall. Reverend M. L. Ford was called to be with His heavenly Father on April 17, 1977.

 

From 1977 to 2004 several ministers held the leadership role of Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church.  Starting in 1977, Reverend G. W. Singleton served as interim pastor while the congregation searched for a pastor.  During his tenure, the separate fellowship hall was attached to the church, providing an enclosed hallway entry between the fellowship hall and church as well as another outer entry door to the fellowship hallway.

 

Reverend J. B. Daniel served as pastor of Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church from September 1977 to May 1981.

 

Reverend E. M. Harris was called to serve as pastor in 1981, serving for ten years, resigning in 1991 due to illness.  

 

Reverend H. P. Kibbe, Jr. was called to serve as pastor in 1991.  During his tenure the church experienced a fire in 1992.  Under his leadership and supervised by Deacon Benjamin Scott, III, the church was restored with improvements. New choir seats, carpeting and a new baptizing pool were installed.  A bus committee was established to pay the cost for the congregation to travel by Greyhound bus to attend the pastor’s preaching engagements. Reverend Kibbe resigned in 1993.

 

Reverend C.  Harrison served as pastor for one year, resigning in 1994.

 

On October 3, 1994, Reverend James Harris, Jr. was called to pastor the church. During his tenure, the women of Mount Calvary reached their goal of $10,000 for their Men & Women’s Day program.  Also during his tenure, the InReach/OutReach Committee, the Matrons Ministry Auxiliary and the Women on the Move for Christ were organized. On July 7, 2001 the church installed a security system. The Women’s Mission Ministries were very active under the leadership of Sis. Lola M. Wilcox and Sis. Bessie Scott, delivering complete Christmas meals to families, fruit baskets to those in nursing homes and they also collected and delivered canned goods to the local chapter of Catholic Charities.  Food was also collected from the Jesse Tree of Galveston and the Gleaning of the Harvest of Galveston County and delivered to grandparents raising their grandchildren and to the sick and shut-in. The Korner Closet was established to provide clothing for the needy. The Kitchen Pantry was established to receive donations of staples and non-perishable for the kitchen, Sis. Vivian Chambers, chair. The church also added an Audio and Video Ministry and the church’s anniversary committee established the E. M. Harris Study Hall and Library.  While the church continued to function and serve its congregation and community, for several years the church suffered financially.  Deacon Samuel Chambers and Deacon Charles Cartwright and other members of the congregation gave over and above their regular contributions to cover some of the church’s basic needs. Deacon Chambers contacted Reverend Kerry W. Tillmon, the President of the Baptist Ministers Association of Galveston County and Pastor of West Point Baptist Church of Galveston, Texas to assist the church in raising $2000 for insurance coverage.    Reverend Harris resigned on May 2, 2004.

 

Reverend Michael Dorise, not an ordained minister at the time, served the membership until July 2004. During that time Reverend I. Leigh, an ordained minister, also served when called upon for specific services.

 

July of 2004, Bro. Samuel Chambers, Chairman of the Deacon Board, contacted Reverend Timothy L. Allen, Sr. to render service for the congregation and Reverend Allen later became interim pastor. On September 12, 2004 the vote of the church’s membership elected   Reverend Timothy L. Allen, Sr. the pastor of Greater Mount Calvary Church.  His installation service was held on November 28, 2004 at Greater St. Matthew Baptist Church in Hitchcock, Texas.

 

Now in his sixteenth year at Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church, eager to work for God’s program, Reverend Allen demonstrated his devotion to the church and congregation while still interim pastor.  Under his leadership as pastor, the church has experienced many improvements: new carpet in the church,  new roof on the church and fellowship hall,  new tables and chairs for the fellowship hall,  renovated kitchen, ceiling fans for the church and fellowship hall, new entrance doors to the church, new pews and pulpit furniture, new office furniture, phones and office equipment, remodeled the fellowship hall, new increased tonnage central air and heating units, thirteen security cameras surround the church property and the choir room now has a restroom.  In 2005, under the leadership of Reverend Allen the church acquired 501c(3) status. This allowing the church to solicit donations and make tax free purchases to continue physical improvements and support the church’s programs. After Hurricane IKE damaged the church in 2008, Reverend Allen worked alongside contractors, construction workers and deacons to restore the church and fellowship hall. He negotiated with insurances companies to ensure the church received the appropriate payments for the damage it suffered. During the summer of 2015, the church’s interior was renovated. 

 

Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church has been in good caring hands for 82 years.

 

Happy Birthday Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church! Happy Anniversary!

 

October 11, 2015

Sis. Tommie D. Boudreaux, Member

Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church