PROLOGUE

Prior to the organization of Birmingham First Church of the Nazarene, there was a wonderful group of dedicated people with a burning desire to establish a holiness church that would proclaim the Wesleyan-Arminian doctrine in the city. The minutes of the Alabama District for 1914 list a Church of the Nazarene in Birmingham with Rev. Harry Moore as pastor. There is no earlier mention of a church in previous minutes. The church reported the following statistics: 18 members, 30 enrolled in Sunday school, and a total raised for all purposes of $299.00. The church in Birmingham was the sixth largest of the 23 on the district.

In 1915 Rev. E. N. Pitts was listed as the pastor of the church which reported 20 members, 30 in Sunday school, and a total raised of $244.59. Rev. P. C. Ramsey served during 1916. The church was now the third largest on the district of 28 churches, which included a Church of the Nazarene in Wylam. Rev. Harry Moore was again listed as pastor in 1917. The church named 19 members, 30 in Sunday school, and $170.25 raised. 1918 was a difficult year for the church. Even though the membership shrunk to 12, the Sunday school reached a new high of 33 enrolled. The total raised was only $57.50. In 1919 Rev. W. P. Colvin served as pastor of the 12 members who raised a total of $138.00. There was no Sunday school reported.

No pastor was listed in the 1920 District Minutes for the 9 members of the church in Birmingham who gave a total of $567.55. In 1921 no pastor was named for the 4 members, whose giving for the year was $346.25. A footnote on page 29 of the 1921 minutes said, “Birmingham and Alabaster consolidated with Calera….” This ended the first organizational effort of a Church of the Nazarene in Birmingham. For the next two years there was no mention of a church in the District Minutes. The PROLOGUE

No pastor was listed in the 1920 District Minutes for the 9 members of the church in Birmingham who gave a total of $567.55. In 1921 no pastor was named for the 4 members, whose giving for the year was $346.25. A footnote on page 29 of the Prior to the organization of Birmingham First Church of the Nazarene, there was a wonderful group of dedicated people with a burning desire to establish a holiness church that would proclaim the Wesleyan-Arminian doctrine in the city. The minutes of the Alabama District for 1914 list a Church of the Nazarene in Birmingham with Rev. Harry Moore as pastor. There is no earlier mention of a church in previous minutes. The church reported the following statistics: 18 members, 30 enrolled in Sunday school, and a total raised for all purposes of $299.00. The church in Birmingham was the sixth largest of the 23 on the district.

No pastor was listed in the 1920 district minutes for the 9 members of the church in Birmingham who gave a total of $567.55. In 1921 no pastor was named for the 4 members, whose giving for the year was $346.25. A vision of a holiness church in Birmingham, however, had not been .lost.

Birmingham First Church History

In 1924 a group banded together to make the dream of a holiness church in Birmingham a reality. The oldest record book on hand for Birmingham First Church has the following as its first entry:

“Birmingham, Ala.

Nov. 23rd, 1924

The Church of the Nazarene of Birmingham, Alabama was organized by Rev. H. H. Hooker District Superintendent of the Alabama District in the old Owenton Methodist Church Building at noon. The following were present and received as charter members (sic)

Rev. W. O. Self

Mrs. M. E. Self

Mr. and Mrs. D. M Standford

Mr. W. Bartley

Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Lawley

Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Busby

Mrs. M. E. Harpst

Mrs. C. I. Sherrill

Mrs. (J. E.) Phalke

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Majors

Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Baldwin

Mr. and Mrs. B. H. Lee

Mrs. Ella Wait

Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Chambers” (sic)

Following a four Sunday revival in the Methodist church named above with Revs. H. H. Hooker and W. O. Self as the evangelists, these 21 people formed First Church of the Nazarene, Birmingham, Alabama. The Owenton Methodist Church was located at Graymont Avenue and 8th Street West, just a little more than a block from where the church had its first permanent building.

Rev. L. B. Mathews of Tennessee preached from the 6th chapter of Isaiah at a meeting held on December 18, 1924. Following the service, Rev. Mathews received a unanimous call from the 22 members to serve as the pastor of the church with a salary of $75.00 a month. This was raised to $22.50 per week by April of 1925. During this organizational year, B. H. Lee served as the first Sunday school superintendent, and Mrs. L. B. Mathews as the first missionary president. Miss Catherine Stuckey was named as the first N.Y.P.S. President and was later succeeded by Earl Baldwin. Services were held in the auditorium of the DeSoto Hotel, which had previously been the Loulie Compton Seminary for Women, which was located on 5th Avenue North between 17th and 18th Streets.

Rev. Mathews reported nineteen members received into the church in 1925, eight of these on profession of faith, bringing the total membership to 40 for the year. The Sunday school enrolled 57 and averaged 38. The total raised for all purposes was $2,421.00. They met in an old dwelling in the block just west of the post office on 5th Avenue North. In 1926 the Sunday school averaged 34 for the year.

Rev. C. C. White was listed as the pastor in 1927. No Sunday school average was noted, but the membership of 45 remained the same as in 1926. Those members who joined equalized the losses of the year. The Sunday school increased to an average of 75 during Rev. C. C. White’s last year as pastor. During this period, the congregation left the rented building and worshipped in a tent downtown near the public library. Several months later the tent caught fire and burned.

In 1929 the congregation secured another tent, which was placed across from the City Auditorium, for worship. Rev. C. B. Jernigan was the pastor, and the Sunday school reported an average of 50.

Rev. H. F. Tate served as the pastor of the church in 1930 with services held at 706 - 2nd Avenue North. The Sunday school averaged 53 for the year.

In 1931 Rev. M. L. Garrett began a seven-year period as pastor of the church. The Sunday school averaged 47 for the year. For a time they worshipped in a brick stone building located at 2838 Bessemer Road near Five Points West. The Rucker Hardware Company later occupied this building for many years. Under the leadership of Pastor Garrett, the Sunday school showed a permanent increase in average attendance to 80 in 1932. While building their first sanctuary in 1934, the congregation worshipped in a tent located in the backyard of the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Hoffman. The Sunday school increased to an average of 89 for the year.

Rev. Garrett purchased the old Bush School building located at 2231 Avenue “G”, Ensley, for a high bid of $325.00. This building was demolished and the materials were moved to the 923 Graymont Avenue address. Men and women cleaned the bricks and received their noon meal in payment for their labors. In 1935, when the building was finished, the leftover scrap materials were sold for more than the amount the church had originally invested! The Sunday school average leaped to 125. A mission began that was later organized as the Birmingham Acipco Church of the Nazarene. The Sunday school reported an average of 101 in 1936. Rev. M. L. Garrett reported to the district assembly in 1937 for the last time as pastor of the church. The Sunday school averaged 124.

In 1934 Mrs. Garrett began a branch Sunday school in Tarrant City. The mission was later organized as the Birmingham Tarrant City Church of the Nazarene. Rev. Claude L. Chilton of Birmingham First was called to serve as their first pastor.

In 1938 following a term as Superintendent of the Alabama District, Rev. J. A. Manasco served as pastor of the church. During his four years as pastor, the first daily Vacation Bible School was held at the church; new pews and a heating system were installed.

Rev. Manasco gave his last report as pastor of Birmingham First church to the district assembly of 1941. The Sunday school averaged 135 for the year. Before leaving the church in 1942, Rev. Manasco organized the Cottage Hills Church of the Nazarene (now Pleasant Grove).

Rev. Ray Hance came to serve as pastor of the church in 1942, and the Sunday school averaged 121 for the year. In 1943 a lot on the east side of the church and a parsonage at 1131 4th Terrace West were purchased. The Sunday school increased to 161 in average attendance.

Additional accomplishments during Rev. Hance’s pastorate were the remodeling of the basement of the church and the construction of an inside stairway to the basement, the removal of the indebtedness on the pews, and the purchase of a used grand piano.

Rev. Dallas Baggett became pastor of Birmingham First in the fall of 1944. During 1945 a neon sign was erected in front of the church and two additional lots adjacent to the church property were purchased. In 1946 the debt on the parsonage was paid in full. Also, the indebtedness on the three lots was removed during Rev. Baggett’s term. Elbert Watson, Jr. served as the assistant to Pastor Baggett. The Sunday school nearly reached the magic figure of 200 in 1947 with an average attendance of 195.

Under the leadership of Rev. Baggett, the church erected a Sunday school annex at the back of the sanctuary. This unit contained 10 classrooms, 1 chapel, 2 offices, and 2 supply rooms. With the impetus of the building program, the Sunday school increased again to an average of 225. During 1949 carpet was installed in the sanctuary and the Sunday school averaged 220. New sanctuary pews were purchased in 1950, as well as a Sunday school bus. The bus was used Sunday after Sunday to bring people from the Elyton Village area to the church services. The bus ministry proved to be a vital part of the outreach of the church. Again, a great host of people joined the church. Professor Ramon Unruh came to serve as Minister of Music in 1953, and the Sunday school showed another good increase to 258.

The church board minutes for February 4, 1954, contain the following statement: “….At this time Rev. Baggett dropped an “A” Bomb in our midst – by submitting his resignation as pastor of the church. Rev. Baggett has accepted the Davis Creek Church located near Charleston, W.Va. The Board reluctantly accepted his resignation.” Other achievements during his ten-year pastorate were that the $25,000 indebtedness was reduced to $3,000, and a house adjacent to the church property was purchased for $5,000.

Rev. L. Wayne Sears succeeded Rev. Baggett as the pastor of the church, and in the fall, the music director, Ramon Unruh, resigned to accept a position on the faculty of Trevecca Nazarene College. Rev. John Thompson was hired and served for one year as the assistant to the pastor. In 1955 the church was completely air-conditioned and a parking lot was added. The church annex (#1) was remodeled and concrete steps added to the second floor of the main building in 1956. Mrs. Ethel Lott was appointed in 1957 to assist Rev. Sears with visitation. By this time, the annex had been remodeled for use as Sunday school rooms.

Rev. Howard Hill came in 1958 to serve as the pastor of the church following Rev. Sears’ resignation. The small neon sign in the front of the church was replaced with a larger one. In 1959 the Sunday school passed the hurdle of 300 with an average of 315 during Rev. Hill’s pastorate.

Rev. Hill resigned in 1960, and Rev. R. C. Johnson came to pastor Birmingham First Church. A second house and lot, which adjoined the church property, was purchased during 1960. Two records were set during 1961: 1) The highest Easter attendance to date of 502 and 2) the highest average in Sunday school in the history of the church with 316 per Sunday.

Mrs. Grace Golsan was named in 1961 as the local Sunday school “Teacher of the Year,” and Mrs. Susan Scogin received the “Alabama District Sunday School Teacher of the Year” award. In the last ten months of the year $11,000 was raised to clear the church of all indebtedness.

Rev. Johnson resigned in 1963, and Rev. Gene Fuller of Pensacola, Florida was called to serve as pastor. Howard Stocks was named “Alabama District Sunday School Teacher of the Year.” Asa Sparks joined the church staff as Director of Christian Education. Under the leadership of Rev. Fuller, a building program was launched for the construction of much-needed facilities.

The church board adopted plans for a new sanctuary and Sunday school rooms in 1965. In the fall, $140,000 church bonds were sold to finance the new building. A ground breaking ceremony was held on September 5, 1965, and construction of the new facilities began on February 1, 1966. Shortly afterward, the property on the corner of Graymont Avenue and 9th Street was purchased.

In November Rev. Fuller resigned and Rev. D. W. Thaxton of Davis Creek, West Virginia, was called to serve as pastor, beginning his ministry in mid-December 1966. The new building was not ready for occupancy and funds for completion of the building program had been exhausted. Rev. Thaxton worked with the church board and arranged to borrow the funds needed from a local bank. Work was begun to finish the building, with painting, cleaning, etc. being done by church members. The first service was held in the new sanctuary the last Sunday of January 1967. Dr. V.H. Lewis, General Superintendent, brought the dedicatory message at a service held May 26, 1968.

The church struggled financially after the completion of the new facilities, and many Monday mornings were spent with the pastor and treasurer deciding which bills could be paid that week. As the financial burden lessened, a new church bus was purchased, extensive renovations were made to the older building, the east parking lot was paved, and an additional house and lot east of the church on Graymont Avenue were purchased. During Rev. Thaxton’s pastorate, a teen choir was organized, under the direction of Mr. Ron Doughty. Leadership for the group known as the “New World Singers” was provided by Robert and Norma Bumpus, Mildred Hamner, Beth (Evans) Gilliland and Jim Stocks. As a special project for the year, the church raised money to purchase a Volkswagen for Jim and Judy Stocks who had been appointed missionaries to Africa.

Rev. Thaxton’s pastorate of Birmingham First Church ended in January 1971. In March Rev. Robert Anderson began a three-year pastorate. In May 1971, the church sold the parsonage on 4th Terrace West and purchased a house in Forestdale for the new parsonage. The church employed two full-time assistants. Ron Jeffries served as Director of Christian Education and Music, and Gordon Watkins became Director of Youth and Outreach. Rev. Anderson resigned in April 1974.

Rev. Roy T. Nix of Joilet, Illinois, was called as the new pastor and began his ministry at Birmingham First in June 1974. In October 1974, the church purchased another piece of adjoining property, giving a frontage of 450’ on Graymont Avenue. Numerous hours were spent by the board in meetings to discuss the future of the ministry of First Church of the Nazarene in its present location.

After much prayerful thought and consideration, the church board presented to the congregation a recommendation to sell the church property on Graymont Avenue and also the parsonage in Forestdale. The proposal included purchase of 6.9 acres located at 1998 Shades Crest Road in Vestavia Hills for $190,000. The property included a house that could be used as a parsonage. With relocation being a major decision and a vote of the membership required, a meeting of the congregation was called. Opportunity was given for members to express views, concerns, and the ministry to the elderly members living in the Graymont area. After all concerns had been addressed, Rev. C. E. Perry stood to his feet and quoted II Kings 7:3 “Why sit we here until we die?” This sparked an acceptance of the challenge presented by the board. The congregation approved the recommendation to sell the present property and relocate. The church was sold to Sardis Baptist Church, a black congregation, for $340,000. The final services at the Graymont Avenue location were held on August 31, 1975. During the construction of the new church on Shades Crest Road, services were held in the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Tuscaloosa Avenue. The Birmingham First congregation was invited by Sardis Baptist Church to attend their celebration service as they began worshipping in their new facilities. Rev. Nix preached at the celebration service and the Birmingham First choir sang. It was rewarding to the Birmingham First congregation to know that the Graymont Avenue property would continue to be used to provide an important ministry to the community.

After visits to many lending agencies, Rev. Nix was able to secure financing for the project. Rev. Nix served as general contractor; and Mr. Harold Deese was hired as building superintendent along with his assistant, Mr. Bob McKay, to oversee the construction. Members and friends donated many hours of volunteer labor to see the project to completion. The sanctuary, offices, and Sunday school rooms were completed in 1977 at a cost of $444,500. On the first Sunday of March 1977, the congregation began worshipping in the new church. Dr. Edward Lawlor, General Superintendent, dedicated the church plant to the honor and glory of God in a wonderful celebration service on Sunday, March 27, 1977.

Rev. Phillip Crittenden was hired in 1978 as part-time Youth Pastor, and in January 1979 Mr. Don Hastings was hired as Minister of Music. Rev. Crittenden became full-time Assistant Pastor in May 1981 for the primary purpose of beginning the ministry of First Church of the Nazarene Day Care and Kindergarten. The Day Care began accepting students in the fall of that year. A Day Care Board was appointed to establish policies and procedures and to be responsible for the overall operation. The ministry of the Day Care continued to grow and in 1983 the on-site parsonage became an educational unit for the Day Care and was used for additional Sunday school rooms. At this time, a parsonage was purchased at 2309 Pine Crest Drive in Vestavia Hills at a cost of $96,500. The Day Care ministry provided a service to the community for 17 years.

In 1983 Mr. Bruce Oldham was hired as Youth Pastor and Mr. Tim Godby was hired as Minister of Music. The congregation approved the construction of the Educational Unit and Family Life Center. Rev. James Boardman was hired as Day Care Director and Children’s Pastor in 1984. The Family Life Center was completed in 1985 at a cost of $756,370. It houses a gymnasium, large fireside room, commercial kitchen (furnished at a later date), and several additional rooms that could be used for Sunday school rooms/meeting rooms. This facility has proven to be a valuable asset to the ministries of First Church of the Nazarene. In June 1986 Pastor Nix accepted a pastorate in Houston, Texas, having served twelve years, the longest pastoral tenure in the history of Birmingham First Church.

Rev. Lynn Holmes served as Interim Pastor through the summer and fall of 1986. Rev. Gerald Woods of Sacramento, California, began his pastorate in November 1986. During his tenure, Rev. Terry Turner was hired as Youth Pastor/FLC Director in September 1987; Todd Webb was hired as Minister of Music in June 1988. Average Sunday School attendance of 214 and morning worship average attendance of 256 were the highest the church had experienced since moving to the Vestavia Hills area. The first remodeling of the chancel area of the sanctuary was completed during Rev. Woods’ ministry at Birmingham First. Rev. Woods resigned to accept a call to Valparaiso, Indiana, in November 1988.

January 15, 1989, was the first Sunday for the new pastor, Rev. Eugene Frame of Oskaloosa, Iowa. During his four years of service, Tim Godby of South Carolina returned as Minister of Music; Rev. Terry Brown served as Day Care Director and Children’s Minister; Dick and Wanda Milton were hired as Ministers of Visitation and as Senior Adult Pastors; Stan Sheridan served as Youth Director. In February 1990, the parsonage on Pine Crest Drive was sold, and love offering funds were made available to Rev. Frame allowing him to purchase his own home. In 1992 the furnishing and equipping of the Fireside Room and Kitchen in the Family Life Center were completed at a cost of $99,671. The much-needed refurbishing of the Sunday Schools rooms and Day Care/Education Building was also completed. Rev. Frame resigned in the spring of 1993 to accept a call to Arlington, Virginia.

Several lay pastors and retired ministers filled the pulpit during the interim period prior to the coming of Rev. Randy Dodd from Vero Beach, Florida, in January 1994. Rev. Dodd’s tenure brought a new group of associates – Terry Schakelaar as Children’s Pastor and Day Care Director, Martin Barker as Youth Pastor, and Dr. Ray Burwick as Director of Lay Ministries. In an effort to further our ministries, an early Sunday morning contemporary style worship service began on a trial basis. Major renovations were completed, including the chancel area, recovering of pews and chairs, and new carpeting of the sanctuary and hallways. Following the resignation of Rev. Terry Schakelaar, who accepted a pastorate in Cleo Springs, Oklahoma, Mrs. Leisha Boulware was hired for the position of Children’s Pastor. In 1997 the members and friends of the church raised $24,520 to provide a new van for the Nazarene Theological College in Honeydew, South Africa. Rev. Dodd resigned in March 1998 to accept a call to Sarasota, Florida.

Dr. W. T. Dougharty of Oklahoma was the first of the retired ministers who served as pastor of the congregation during the interim period. His short-lived ministry to Birmingham First Church was one of love and compassion. He was God’s man for the hour. On Monday morning, June 1, 1998, after a wonderful day of worship on Sunday, Dr. Dougharty went home to be with the Lord. The following Sunday Dr. Millard Reed of Trevecca Nazarene University brought a message of encouragement and comfort to the hurting congregation. Former Pastor Dr. Dallas Baggett, Dr. W. E. McCumber, and Rev. Lee McCleery ministered to the congregation in the ensuing months and prepared them for the coming of the new pastor, Rev. John Williamson of Orange, Texas.

Rev. Williamson assumed the pastorate of Birmingham First Church of the Nazarene in October 1998. During the past year, the church has experienced a wonderful spirit of unity and purpose. On September 19, 1999, a celebration service was held and the mortgage on the Family Life Center was burned. Former Pastor Roy T. Nix, District Superintendent Robert Broadbooks, Pastor John Williamson, Church Board Secretary Paul Jacobs and Church Treasurer Ruth Burleson participated in the mortgage burning ceremony. For the first time in decades the church is debt

free. The blessings of God upon the church are evident, and steady growth is taking place in all areas of ministry.

Across the past 75 years, Birmingham First Church has experienced wonderful worship services with the presence and anointing of the Lord. It has been a place of service for many laymen in the area of worship leader and music ministry. The wonderful committed lay people that have made up the sanctuary choirs over the years have been, and are continuing to be, a blessing at each worship service. The auxiliary arms of the church – Sunday school, Youth and Missions – could not exist without the involvement of the dedicated laity. Birmingham First Church has provided for many a place of refuge and an opportunity to serve. The people are still committed to the original mission of proclaiming holiness in our city and around the world. The desire of the congregation of Birmingham First Church as they move into the 21st century can be expressed in the words of a song:

“O may all who come behind us find us faithful

May the fire of our devotion lead the way.

May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe,

And the lives we live inspire them to obey.

O may all who come behind us find us faithful.”

AFTERWORD

Our prayer is that through this presentation of the history of our beloved church you may grasp anew the vision for Birmingham First Church of the Nazarene. God has used this church in a wonderful way across the years in helping to plant and nourish other Nazarene churches in the greater Birmingham area. Our consistent support of the district and general church organization for these past 75 years has helped in the spread of the gospel around the world. The story is not complete, however, for He has much more for us to do.

Many hours have gone into the research and preparation of this work. We are grateful for the previous work, done more than 35 years ago by Asa Sparks and Charlotte (Porterfield) Dourrieu, which helped provide some of the information. Old record books and minutes have also been very useful, and the memories of those who have been a part of the story have been invaluable.

Thank you for the privilege of bringing to you the “History of Birmingham First Church of the Nazarene.”

The History Committee

Ruth Burleson, Chairman

Linda Benton

Linda Shanklin

Glenda Thompson

Carolyn Yeager

Birmingham First Church History

AFTERWORD

100th Anniversary Update