Ek<£L-^V ^ gj^iii'cfi^; ^L^k^f undated WOODLAWN BAPTIST CHURCH Like so many of Birmingham's churches, that blossomed at the ice cream festival—ro­ Woodlawn Baptist started as a Sunday School. mances that later led to the founding of Christian Ruhama Baptist Church had been active for homes, from whence came many of Woodlawn's many years, but in those days of muddy roads, and Birmingham's leaders. and transportation either in wagons or on one's Birmingham was far away then. You would own two feet, Ruhama seemed far away to those have thought so too, if you had had to ride the families living near the present location of Wood­ bumpy wagon to Avondale, and then the mule lawn Baptist Church. And so a Sunday School car into the city. So life in all its phases center­ was started, about 1885, .at first in a private ed around the churches. And Woodlawn Baptist home. When the group grew larger, it received played an active part in the building of Bir­ permission to meet in the little wooden building mingham's religious heritage. of the Central Public School. At that time, the The church owed much to the public school Sunday School was non-denominational; as more for its first meeting place. As the years went by, members came, Baptist and other groups sepa- the situation changed, and the church has been , rated and started many of the fine churches now of service to the schools. During the building of in Woodlawn. Woodlawn High School, the church building Many of the early members were from Ruhama was used by the students. The ministers of church. Under their wise leadership, the East Woodlawn Baptist Church have been chapel Birmingham Baptist Church, as it was first call­ speakers at the school, and helped in various ways. In turn, the faculty members of the high ed, grew larger and more active. In 1887, the school have been active in the church, speakers, name was changed to Woodlawn Baptist Church; Sunday School teachers, counselors. As time goes then changed again to 56th Street Baptist, and round, the situation again changes, and now, finally back to Woodlawn Baptist. once more the church—full to overflowing—is In those days, church functions supplied most using the school buildings for some of its Sunday of the social life of the people. There were no School classes. movies, no radios, no telephones. The church That brings us up to today. Woodlawn Bap­ was the meeting place, and the church program tist is still building Birmingham's religious herit­ included fun and service, as well as worship. age — with inspiration and service, educating To make money for the first church building, children and young people in the faith of their the members at Woodlawn Baptist held ice fathers, encouraging parents and Christian cream festivals in the Summer, and oyster sup­ homes, comforting and serving the older mem­ bers. The future holds the bright promise of a pers in the Winter. Folks came all the way from new modern educational building, where even the big city of Birmingham, traveling on the more people will be given the opportunity to Georgia-Pacific Railroad, to attend these social build Birmingham's — indeed, Alabama's — reli­ affairs. There were probably many romances gious heritage. OUR RELIGIOUS HERITAGE The Music and Stories of Birmingham's Churches E L M W 0 0 I narrated by The South's Most Beautiful Cemetery Davenport Smith SUNDAY MORNING, WBRC Perpetual Care Fund now in excess of $407,000.00 It's better to have a lot at Elmwood presented by and not need it than to need one THE ELMWOOD CORPORATION and not have it. WALTER PUCKETT, President jFranklin To Take ^Woodlawn Posfyj^. ' •£ The Rev. Bob Franklin will as- i^sume duties as minister of edu­ cation at Woodlawn Baptist Church ''March 6. • For the past three years he has been minister of education at Highland Baptist Church in Flor­ ence. A native of Center Point, Mr. Franklin is a graduate of Howard College and received his seminary training at Southern Baptist Theo- J.logical Seminary, Louisville, Ky. i T. ^ A«d. -tf—• PROPOSED WOODLAWN BAPTIST SANCTUARY TO SEAT 1,200 Congregation approves replacing present sanctuary with new $700,000 structure Woodlawn Baptists approve construction of sanctuary Woodlawn Baptists Sunday, The sanctuary is octagonal in axis above and^-to the rear of voted' to erect a new sanctuary shape, with the inside diameter the choir and pulpit, framed and educational building on the 90 feet'and a ceiling height of with a Georgian design frame site of the present sanctuary. about 43 feet. i and grille covering the organ. The building, whose cost has The rear walls will have been estimated in excess of THE DESIGN is modified acaustical absorption panels. $700,000, will house a sanctuary Georgian to match the existing The floor under the pews will to seat 1,200, a large new vesti­ educational building. The plan be covered with wall-to-wall bule, music department, two places -the congregation around carpeting. The choir floor is adult departments, assembly the pulpit with the most distant to be covered with vinyl as­ rooms which will double the seat only 64 feet from the pulpit. bestos. chapel, and a new rest room. The interior design is also The lighting will be a com­ Existing buildings will be re­ of Georgian design. The bap­ x bination of recessed down light modeled. ^ tistry is located on the center and direct light. The room will be equipped with year-round air conditioning entering the room through grilles in the ceil­ ing and returning through grilles in the floor. THE VESTIBULE provides a new main entrance from Geor­ gia Road to the sanctuary and to the existing educational building. One side has sliding glass doors that open to an en­ closed courtyard. The exterior of the building will be brick- trimmed with ^limestone. The roof will be slate with copper flashing. The tower will be covered with aluminum or lead coated cop­ per. The windows will be stained glass. Lawrence Whitten is the architect and T. C. Brasfield & Co. the contractor. John W. Urquhart Sr. is chair­ man of the building committee. B.-.P. Bowden is general finance chairman. Dr. N. H. McCrum­ men is pastor. x ^esl^Ww In 1907^ if;'--'''*mSx ::Thsi West Woodlawn Baptist Church, one of a series' of Birmingham houses of worship appearing ex­ clusively on the church pages of The Age-Herald, UIltH 111 HOLD Many"''Charter :Members j j •1Ui1 UUL Wn * • In Organization . dsiian., Members BY TITOMAS 0, M'OAIN Baptist Church T' Chairman Of Tlio Eoanl Oi ^feJMfe^tf^ A'*J 'v".*'ti'^''f^0''^tWMr'o'i,n'jliuy,a1Kiii.- 1*5, J90V, "ifxerc'ises To Mef at the.home (if-Brother Ji. N. Smith, 401 North : Forty-Ninth Street, - with. "•Service ibdut ,80' people present, ; the "West Of College St Woodlawn -Baptist Church" was or­ ganized. By Invitation, -the following- of sermons ministers were .present: J. M. Shel- A Christmas progr the teach- bourne,- Ruhama. Church; W. B. peciaTiy to,, meet t) Howard, Sixty-Sixth Street Church; lege students, will:' in the. Ser- .Austin Crouch, Woodlawn Church; day night at t' H. Cross- I,. 31. Bradley;. Avondale Church; J. Church. Christian W. Veasly, East Birmingham Church, Following a S< itiornlng and S. O, Y. Ray, associational mis­ James Randolph Mercy." sionary, J. M. Shelbourno w a s Br. J. R. Hobbs, elected chairman and Brother IX N. who Is now a la <ssea- : : Smith was elected clerk. university, a * will dered as folio* ught The .first two dea,eons elected were Brother D. N. Smith, and Brother 3. Prayer, B., B. Bayless,- who were then serving Polytechnic as deacons of the Woodlawn ..'Bap­ ence at the '/*<> tist Church. Bater the following Bearing, J' 'S. deacons were added: B. B. Hinkle, B. Institute; 1 E. Hinkle, T. W. Gainer, J. A.. Akin, Phillips H E. L. Padget, S. R, Bryan, Conrad arcl of Ho Gilbert and J. Hi Fpote.- .tha Sirr "Standar E. M, Bradley preached the first lege," Re sermon in the home of Brother D. "The m N. Smith, Jan. 20, 1907. His text was College, based on John, First Chapter, Forty- First and .Forty-Second verses. T. BL.B., ; H.. Johnston was the first pastor Spec called and served about two years. studeh preset Other pastors who.have served the music' church are: J. A. Hendricks, J..W.' der ti Stewart, W. X'. Reeves, W, R. Poin- Br. '-dexter, J. J. Smyley, J.' W. Partridge, be "i KH. G. Wheeler and J. W. Partridge, sical -!who was called the second time and Fro* ^served until-Bee. V, 1929. Many of the lect'J charter members are ardent church workers and retain their membership fin this.church. SE 1 Officers who have been elected for P ; the coming year'are: Mrs. 1. I. Peo- :ples, president, W. M. U.; S. G. Ful- Ta lerton, superintendent,, Sunday School; Conrad Gilbert,' clerk; Rob- ' ert B. AJversori, treasurer; Henry Morris, director,of B. Y P. IT.; Max ; Nabors, director/of music; Mrs. Rob- ti i ert E. Alvefson, organist; Robert' E. n rAlverson, J. W. Woodyard, 13. P. i '.Smith and K- M. Williams, trustees. i The present church building has been in use for several years. The Rev. B. T. Reaves is expected to fill the pulpit of the church at 11' a.m. Sundaj", and W. p. Clay, widely known biblical painter , of pictures, .will preach Sunday night and unveil apairiUng.