Stone Street Baptist Church
Encyclopedia
Stone Street Baptist Church is a historic African American
Baptist
church in Mobile
, Alabama
. The congregation was established well before the American Civil War
, with Stone Street Baptist recognized today as one of Alabama's most influential
African American Baptist churches. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
on August 08, 1985.
this congregation. In 1843 the white trustees of Saint Anthony Street Baptist Church purchased a
plot of land at the southwest corner of Chestnut and Tunstall streets for the use of the African
branch of the church, which became the Stone Street Baptist Church. Twenty-five years later the
title to the property was transferred to the African American trustees of the Stone Street Baptist Church.
The first African American pastor for the congregation was Richard Fields. In 1859, after descendants of the Clotilde
settled in Africatown
, they also joined in with members of Stone Street Baptist Church. In 1864, Reverend Benjamin Franklin Burke of Richmond, Virginia
, became pastor and lead the congregation for 38 years, until his death on September 27, 1902. It was Burke who moved the congregation to 311 Cleveland Street in 1870. Cleveland Street was later changed to Tunstall Street in honor of former pastor Dr. Charles A. Tunstall. Reverend K. D. Watkins, who pastored from 1907 to 1915, rebuilt Stone Street Baptist Church in 1909. The church received a major renovation in 1931 under the leadership of Reverend M. C. Cleveland.
Dr. Charles A. Tunstall served the longest as pastor, from 1949 to 1992, a total of 43 years. Under his leadership, the church membership increased, land around the church was purchased, an expansion of auxiliaries took place, a ministry for the hearing impaired was instituted (the first such ministry within the Alabama and National Baptist Convention), and the modern educational building was constructed in 1981, which was named in his honor—The Charles A. Tunstall Educational Building. These accomplishments were testaments to his leadership, dedicated service, and love for the Stone Street Baptist Church family. Pastor Tunstall died April 3, 1992.
After the death of Dr. Tunstall, the congregation called Dr. Harold W. Toliver as pastor on September 30, 1992. Dr. Toliver served eight years under Dr. Tunstall as his Assistant. Under the leadership of Dr. Toliver, over 120 members joined the church, an outreach wheelchair ministry was established where wheelchair using members are picked up every Sunday on a specially equipped van, a Ward system involving Deacons was set up, Deacons were assigned to auxiliaries, a strong Laymen’s group was organized, needed repairs to the church were made, an all male chorus was organized to sing praises to God, and the Gospel was both preached and taught. On September 25, 2002, the congregation called as pastor, the Reverend Milton E. Saffold of Montgomery, Alabama
. He currently serves as the sixteenth pastor of the Stone Street Baptist Church. Reverend Saffold leads the congregation through preaching of the Gospel, teaching of the Bible, and growth in the congregation.
Under his leadership, several new ministries have been established or continued. They include the Christian Education Ministry, the Deaf Ministry, the Married Couples Ministry, the New Members Ministry, the Outreach Ministry, the Singles Ministry, the Youth Ministry, and the Seniors Ministry. Also during this time the church’s quarterly newsletter has been revived, “The Stone Chronicle,” which is published, written, and distributed by our Youth Department, “casual Sunday” has been put into practice, where every fifth Sunday the entire membership worships in appropriate, casual attire, the church is now a Partner in Education with neighborhood schools, the Boys Scout and Girls Scout troops—at all levels—have been reorganized in the church, needed repairs have been made around the church, the first ever City Wide Resurrection Sunrise service was conducted at Cooper Riverside Park in downtown Mobile, for Easter Services, which is now an annual event, yearly revival services are scheduled, quarterly leadership workshops for officers and members are offered, a year-end Memorial Service is held remembering loved ones lost during the year, and an annual Watch Night Service is held on New Year’s Eve.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
church in Mobile
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. The congregation was established well before the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, with Stone Street Baptist recognized today as one of Alabama's most influential
African American Baptist churches. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on August 08, 1985.
History
Stone Street Baptist Church was the second church building constructed by members ofthis congregation. In 1843 the white trustees of Saint Anthony Street Baptist Church purchased a
plot of land at the southwest corner of Chestnut and Tunstall streets for the use of the African
branch of the church, which became the Stone Street Baptist Church. Twenty-five years later the
title to the property was transferred to the African American trustees of the Stone Street Baptist Church.
The first African American pastor for the congregation was Richard Fields. In 1859, after descendants of the Clotilde
Clotilde (slave ship)
The schooner Clotilde was the last known U.S. slave ship to bring slaves from Africa to the United States, arriving at Mobile Bay in autumn 1859 , with 110-160 slaves. The ship was a two-masted schooner, 86 ft long by 23 ft , and it was burned and scuttled at Mobile Bay, soon after...
settled in Africatown
Africatown
Africatown, also known as AfricaTown USA and Africa Town, is a community in Mobile County, Alabama, located three miles north of the city of Mobile. It was formed by West Africans who were among the last known illegal shipment of slaves to the United States...
, they also joined in with members of Stone Street Baptist Church. In 1864, Reverend Benjamin Franklin Burke of Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, became pastor and lead the congregation for 38 years, until his death on September 27, 1902. It was Burke who moved the congregation to 311 Cleveland Street in 1870. Cleveland Street was later changed to Tunstall Street in honor of former pastor Dr. Charles A. Tunstall. Reverend K. D. Watkins, who pastored from 1907 to 1915, rebuilt Stone Street Baptist Church in 1909. The church received a major renovation in 1931 under the leadership of Reverend M. C. Cleveland.
Pastors
This historical congregation has had only sixteen pastors in 196 years. Richard Fields, also called “Uncle Dick,” was the first pastor, followed by Reverend Kadar Hawthorn, Reverend Benjamin F. Burke, Reverend Henry Watson, Reverend Jacobs, Reverend K. D. Watkins, Reverend T. M. Mosley, Reverend C. H. Hawkins, Reverend W. M. Banks, Reverend M. C. Cleveland, Reverend C. T. Hayes, Reverend J. A. Robinson, Reverend V. W. Glanton, Dr. Charles A. Tunstall, Dr. Harold W. Toliver, and Reverend Milton E. Saffold, the current pastor.Dr. Charles A. Tunstall served the longest as pastor, from 1949 to 1992, a total of 43 years. Under his leadership, the church membership increased, land around the church was purchased, an expansion of auxiliaries took place, a ministry for the hearing impaired was instituted (the first such ministry within the Alabama and National Baptist Convention), and the modern educational building was constructed in 1981, which was named in his honor—The Charles A. Tunstall Educational Building. These accomplishments were testaments to his leadership, dedicated service, and love for the Stone Street Baptist Church family. Pastor Tunstall died April 3, 1992.
After the death of Dr. Tunstall, the congregation called Dr. Harold W. Toliver as pastor on September 30, 1992. Dr. Toliver served eight years under Dr. Tunstall as his Assistant. Under the leadership of Dr. Toliver, over 120 members joined the church, an outreach wheelchair ministry was established where wheelchair using members are picked up every Sunday on a specially equipped van, a Ward system involving Deacons was set up, Deacons were assigned to auxiliaries, a strong Laymen’s group was organized, needed repairs to the church were made, an all male chorus was organized to sing praises to God, and the Gospel was both preached and taught. On September 25, 2002, the congregation called as pastor, the Reverend Milton E. Saffold of Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
. He currently serves as the sixteenth pastor of the Stone Street Baptist Church. Reverend Saffold leads the congregation through preaching of the Gospel, teaching of the Bible, and growth in the congregation.
Under his leadership, several new ministries have been established or continued. They include the Christian Education Ministry, the Deaf Ministry, the Married Couples Ministry, the New Members Ministry, the Outreach Ministry, the Singles Ministry, the Youth Ministry, and the Seniors Ministry. Also during this time the church’s quarterly newsletter has been revived, “The Stone Chronicle,” which is published, written, and distributed by our Youth Department, “casual Sunday” has been put into practice, where every fifth Sunday the entire membership worships in appropriate, casual attire, the church is now a Partner in Education with neighborhood schools, the Boys Scout and Girls Scout troops—at all levels—have been reorganized in the church, needed repairs have been made around the church, the first ever City Wide Resurrection Sunrise service was conducted at Cooper Riverside Park in downtown Mobile, for Easter Services, which is now an annual event, yearly revival services are scheduled, quarterly leadership workshops for officers and members are offered, a year-end Memorial Service is held remembering loved ones lost during the year, and an annual Watch Night Service is held on New Year’s Eve.