We believe that God commands his Church to spread the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people. Our Church seeks to do that through each ministry that we conduct, every conversation that we have, and every oppurtunity that the Lord provides. We want our chruch to look like heaven, full of different people from different contexts with different gifts, coming together to worship one God. So, we genuinely hope that you'll come be a part of the picture of Heaven with us!
Knowing Christ means that we believe in the testimony of God, grow to look more like Christ, and find confidence in the promised eternal life.
See 1 John 5:9-13
Memorial Baptist Church originated as a mission Sunday School and was known as West Side Mission.
It was organized on a Sunday afternoon, October 18, 1885, in the front foyer of a telephone building across from the old T&C Railroad station on West Broad St. Mrs. Bicker, Missionary from First Baptist Church helped in the organization. Bryce Ellis was the superintendent. Soon this room became too small and a larger room on the second floor was used. In the summer of 1886, the room became unbearably hot because the building had a tin roof, so a large store room on the first floor was used.
The Gift Street Methodist Church had completed a new building and offered their old building for the congregation to use. The school met at this location until October 18, 1889. Memorial Baptist Church was organized. At this time, a two story structure at the corner of Sandusky & Shepherd St. was given to the church by Abel Hildreth in memory of his beloved wife. This church was dedicated December 8, 1889. Rev. G.B. Simmons preached this sermon. The first baptismal service was held on January 17, 1890.
Rev. William Haas became pastor in 1903 and served until 1908. He resigned to go to the mission field in Africa. Memorial supported him under African Inland Mission. After much hardship and labor in the field, and much persuasion among the churches at home, he was the founder of the General Council of Co-operating Baptist Missions of North America, Inc later to become Baptist Mid-Missions.
The church had a mission school in the old McKinley Ave. school between the years of 1909-1913. Reverend Morse and Reverend Hall were pastors at the time. This mission phased out as people lost interest.
Memorial Baptist Church was a haven for saving lives during and after the 1913 flood. Many took refuge there. A commissary was opened and many were given food and clothing.
As early as 1893 the church began to see the need for a new building. An opportunity to sell the old building did not materialize, and so, in the early 1930s, the old building was torn down. Men, women, and children cleaned bricks for re-use. Pastor H.F. Dudly and his wife worked alongside the people. A lady named “Aunt Lillie” Humphrey made huge kettles of soup to feed the workers. Money was scarce, so Aunt Lillie matched dollar for dollar with the church to finance the new building. During the time between the tearing down of the old building and construction of the new, the congregation met in Sunshine Shelter House.
When Aunt Lillie died, her will bequeathed $3,000 to the church. New pews and carpet were bought at that time.
In 1936, the new Tabernacle type building was completed. In this building was placed a beautiful stained glass window over the baptistry. It was dedicated to Mrs. Elizabeth Hildreth, the woman in whose memory the original site and structure was given. Within a week after the new stained glass window was put in, someone threw a four inch stone through it, hitting nine year old Norma Walker and narrowly missing Price Allen, who was pronouncing the benediction.
The baptistry pool, which was designed by Bill Burroughs, had a double waterfall, and ws the only one of its kind in Columbus. The pool held 600 gallons of water, and had a pump which circulated 20 gallons per minute. Colored lights illuminated the stained glass window.
The first wedding in the new church was that of Gertrude McDowell and Carl Gray.
The pastor during this time was Pastor H.F. Dudly. He went home to be with the Lord while pastoring here. During his ministry, the church came out of the Old Northern Baptist Convention, which had become modernistic. We are now associated with the Ohio Association of Regular Baptist Churches (OARBC).
At one time, tent meetings were held on the church lawn during the summer months. The church also held street meetings on the corner of Broad and High Streets and other streets. Evan Evans played a small organ.
In 1957, a new highway was to be constructed, resulting in a relocation. The old building was sold for $125,000. Memorial Baptist Church then purchased a plot of land at 2435 Eakin Road. Ground was broken for a new building on June 1, 1958. During the construction, a storm hit causing the rafters and two brick walls to collapse.
While the new building was under construction, the congregation met at Franklin School on Grubb St. They later moved to Hilltonia Junior High School on Mound St, closer to the new building.
On January 4, 1959, the church moved into the new building and on February 8 it was dedicated. The gymnasium was added in 1975. The Worship Center was partially remodeled in 1994. In 2007 the church bus garage was renovated into a youth center. In February 2011 phase 1 of a three phase remodeling plan was completed.
Our Master Planning Team continues to research and develop Phases II and III. Phase II includes addressing the relocation of the church and pastoral offices, opening up the present foyer, and enclosing the front portico to reorient the main entrance to the side parking lot. Phase III includes addressing a new foyer addition, an elevator for handicap access, revised landscaping, parking lot changes and relocation of the church steeple to the middle of the building.
Senior Pastors of Memorial Baptist Church:
Rev. H.A. Nixon November 1889-May 1892
Rev. Bertley November 1892-October 1893
Rev. Lemon October 1893-1899
Rev. C.H. Davis August 1899-October 1903
Rev. William Haas November 1903-September 1908
Reverend D.L. Morse May 1909-March 1911
Rev. James Hall November 1911-November 1916
Rev. G.R. Robbins April 1917-June 1923
Dr. Coburn June 1923-May 1924
Rev. H.F. Dudly May 1924-March 1945
Rev. C.C. Clawson November 1945-November 1959
Rev. Vernon Billington May 1960-November 1969
Dr. Donald B. Winters March 1970-December 1977
Interim June 1979-December 1970
Rev. Thomas E. Wright, Jr. January 1980-October 2020
Rev. Jeffrey Beckley November 2020-present
Youth and Associate Pastors
Rev. Tim Northey December 1972-September 1978
Rev. Dennis George October 1978-June 1994
Steve Dye September 1988-August 1989
Larry Nocella September 1989-August 1994
Rev. Ed Lanning June 1995-July 2001
Jon McGinnis May 2000-June 2004
Jason Oesterling June 2002-September 2007
Josh Scarberry (Interim Youth) June 2005-August 2005
Dan Hunt January 2006-December 2010
Nate Bell (Interim Youth) January 2011-June 2011
Rev. Jeff Beckley July 2011-October 2020
Jacob Coolidge October 2020-present