Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church is to REACH the Lost at Any Cost, CONNECT Them With Other Christians, Help Them GROW in Their Faith, DISCOVER their Ministry & HONOR GOD with their Lives! Mount Pilgrim Church History
In the year 1867, six people were chopping in a field on the Mims Plantation and decided "Let us have a church to ourselves." So they met on Wednesday night in a log house. They inv
ited their friends and neighbors and each one was asked to bring a name for the church. Not having a colored ordained minister, a white minister was asked and he gladly came and organized the church for them. After much discussion they all agreed to the name of Mt. The first members in the organization were: Robert and Mary Demand, W.S. And Caroline Spencer, Julia Porter, and Robert McGee. There were a few more, but uncertain who. The first deacons were: Robert Demand, W.S. Spencer, and Robert McGee. The known pastors were: Rev. Caddell, Rev. A.W. Wilson, Rev. L.V. Ellison, Rev. W.A. Rogers, Rev. E.P. Lewis, Rev. G.P. Crosby, Rev. C.H. Farley, Rev. W.W. Thomas, Rev. T.J. Ambers, Rev. Smith, Rev. Derrick D. Hudson, Pastor Emeritus Rev. Bobby H. Williamson Sr., & our present Pastor, Rev Michael Wesley Jr. The first Church was located on the Mims Plantation right off Jefferson Ave. on #11 Highway known as the Old Pear Orchard. This property was given to the Church by the Mims and also a cemetery near Ishkooda line. The second church site and the first to be owned by the members was located between 16th Street and 16th Place S.W. facing 16th Place. After the church was burned down and the lot sold, the third site (second site purchased by the members) was located on 15th Place S.W. The first church was a brick arbor built by the members. A. W. Wilson was the first to be build on the church's own property on 16th Street S.W. After that lot was sold Rev. R.W. Weatherly built a temporary house on this lot. Rev. Farley and Rev. Weatherly built the church that was located on 15th Place S.W. The mortgage was burned on this property, February 23, 1947. In December 1979, we made another giant step forward and purchased the building we now occupy. On Sunday, Oct. 30, 1988, the mortgage was burned in this property. This property was purchased under the leadership of Rev. Ambers. Under the leadership of Rev. Bobby Williamson, our current sanctuary was remodeled by our deacon board. A few years later, our fellowship hall was remodeled along with the pastor’s study, the bathroom facilities of our annex, and several other projects were completed. In 2007, the church family launched a church building fund and raised over $5000 to purchase our current marquee. Several new ministries were formed such as the Men’s Fellowship, New Convert Class, and several workshops were held to enhance the knowledge of our congregation. Our current pastor, Rev. Michael Wesley, Jr., has come in and blazed new trails for our church family. In 2013, several of our children visited KAA (Kids Across America) in Branson, Missouri for a week to grow in the praise and worship experience. Under his diligent leadership we have participated in several community clean up events and neighborhood outreach ministries. Our sister church, Generations Church from Tampa Florida, has fellowshipped with us for a week for the past two years. During his time as pastor, a new rook was added to both our sanctuary and the annex. Pastor Wesley gave us a new church mission statement along with a “dance” that we apply as we strive to be a church that God can use. The Mount Pilgrim Association was organized in the Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church West End in the year 1874. The Association was given the name Mount Pilgrim and was the First Black Church and Association organized in Jefferson County. Our past has been good, while our present is better, and the future will be the best! We Thank and Praise the Lord GOD Almighty, for His Grace, Mercy, and Faithfulness to our beloved church family!
