PILGRIM HOME BAPTIST CHURCH HISTORY
Pilgrim Home Missionary Baptist Church, 221 Kentucky Street, Greenville, MS, was established in 1882. It is now 131 years old. There is no knowledge of an official record of the history of our church from 1882 to 1911. Christ promised the building of the church in Matthew 16:18 when He said, “That thou art, Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and t
he gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Colossians 1:18 says “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
St. Robert Bellarmine (1542 – 1621) said that “The one and true church is the assembly of men, bound together by the profession of the same Christian faith, and by the communion of the same sacraments, under the rule of legitimate pastors. History, according to Webster’s Dictionary, is a narrative of events, arranged in order, usually with comments and explanations; a record of the past handed down to succeeding generations. The first recorded information about the church, as recalled by the late Mrs. Matilda Green, was in 1911. This one room framed building pastored by the late Rev. Horton stood at the corner of Sixth and Alexander Streets where Johnny’s Food Market is located now. The congregation consisted of about twenty (20) members. Horton was the founder of that particular church. There was never a split in the church. Green, not a member of the church at that time but attended Sunday School, recalled a fundraising drive to get a larger building and buy literature for the Sunday School. After successfully raising the funds, the pastor along with the members decided to buy a lot at 670 East Alexander. The church moved there. As time went on the church was under the leadership of the following pastors: the late Rev. Horton, the late Rev. Clark, the late Rev. Williams, the late Rev. Ellis Whyce, the late Rev. M. Walton, the late Rev. L. A. Albert, the late Rev. R. T. Strong, Rev. Emmett Burns, the late Rev. Carl E. Jordan, the late Rev. D. Irving, Rev. Fredrick L. Price, Sr. and our present pastor Dr. John F. Johnson. The church, as seen through the eyes of the late Mrs. Alice Whyce, continued to move forward. The latter church was remodeled by her husband, the late Rev. Ellis Whyce. A Beautifying Club was set up. From the results of the Sister Workers came the first organ for the church, played by Mrs. Juanita Turney. New runners for the floor and pulpit furniture were purchased. After the 1927 flood, the organ was destroyed, and a piano, played by the late Mrs. Walton, was put in its place. Pilgrim Home Church, under the leadership of the late Rev. Walton, as seen through the eyes of the late Mrs. Leora Willis and the late Mr. Isreal Jackson continued to make progress. The church was remodeled, pushing the old part to the back and making an additional new auditorium, side wings or classroom, indoor toilets, and parking area. New lots were purchased to make the parking area. The Beautifying Club purchased a combination of electric heaters and fans, a water fountain, and another piano was purchased from one of the late members of the church, Mrs. Bertha Smith. The late Rev. L.A. Albert’s leadership moved the church still further in an upward direction. They did not slow down. New benches were purchased for the church; each member paid $4.00 per bench. Strong did not cease from carrying on the good work of our late pastors; he launched a program that indicated a greater Pilgrim Home Church. Under his leadership the old Pilgrim Home Church was torn down at 604 East Alexander and relocated at 221 Kentucky Street. The new church was a brick veneer building with air conditioned class rooms, pastor’s study, choir room, and a dining area with a kitchen. The church experienced the brief pastorate, Rev. Emmett Burns, who was an energetic, political minded, young man who filled our church with visitors. He rendered brief but invaluable services to our church. E. Jordan was an inspiration for our young people and helped them greatly. Under his leadership, much Bible knowledge was attained. The church reinstalled the J. A.’s, established its first female Trustee Board positions, and its first female Superintendent, the late Mrs. Mary Jane Winters. During the leadership of the late Rev. Irving, he followed in the footsteps of our late and former pastors. Progress was made through his leadership. We purchased a bus for members to ride, a new organ to make beautiful music for the edifying of the saints played by the late Mrs. Dorothy Marshall, microphones for our voices, a new piano played by the late Mrs. Ira Irving, and wall to wall carpet. With Rev. Irving having a progressive mind and a dream of improving our physical church facility in 1995, he led us in another remodeling making God’s House beautiful for the edification of the saints. During Rev. Irving’s illness in 1999, Rev. Price carried out services. Irving’s death on October 28, 1999, left a great void in the hearts of the Pilgrim Home Church Family. We knew and realized that once the “Chair” was mentally unveiled, after a 3 month period, we would be in search of a leader. Upon the passing of Pastor Irving, several preachers carried out our worship services until the election of Rev. Price. In March, 2000, Rev. Price was elected as our pastor. Under the leadership of Pastor Price, we continued to grow. Some of his accomplishments were an increase in membership, property purchased, a marquis installed, and several in-house improvements. August 2011: God has and still is wonderfully blessing us at Pilgrim Home Baptist Church. We have been blessed by God our Father once again with an under shepherd that has a true vision of moving forward to greater levels. We are blessed that God saw fit to place within our midst under shepherd Dr. John F. Johnson, a native Mississippian born, and a true Mississippi product. In 2011, Dr. Johnson became Pastor of Pilgrim Home Baptist Church, we are proud to have him as our pastor, teacher, and willing to serve as our confidant. Thanks Be unto God our Father. His accomplishments are: vision and purpose statement, new choir robes, new microphones and sound system, leadership meetings, Sunday School changed to Church School Lifestyle Curriculum, and finally a vision to update the church and build a Life Fellowship Center. God has shown favor to us at Pilgrim Home Baptist church, and we should continue to praise His Holy name with Thanksgiving. To “God Be the Glory” for we are more than blessed. God has truly smiled on us.
