St. Mary's Missionary Baptist
69 Washington Street
"Lincolnville"
This church was founded on May 25, 1875, and led by the inspiring Reverend Ivory Barnes, its first minister. The present edifice, occupied beginning in 1937, has held high the banner of Christ. Inspired in its earliest days by the spirit of The Emancipation Proclamation and The Reconstruction following The Civil War. St. Mary's occupies a unique position at the foot of Lincolnville, and stands tall as a beacon of freedom and hope.
During the era of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s in St. Augustine, this church, through the stout-heartedness of its minister and N.A.A.C.P. leader, Rev. Thomas A. Wright, and other local leaders was the site of mass-meetings and a respite for the foot soldiers on the road in the quest for civil and human freedoms. These crusading examples, sustained through St. Mary's Missionary Baptist Church ordains it the Birthplace of The Civil Rights Movement in St. Augustine.
Presented by The Civil Rights Memorial Projects Committee of St. Augustine, Executive Committee: Gerald Eubanks, Chairman: Bernice Harper, Vice-Chairman: Joe Eubanks and Jimmie Wells, and
Supported by Henry "Hank" Thomas, Freedom Rider, 1961
Erected January 2006
69 Washington Street
"Lincolnville"
This church was founded on May 25, 1875, and led by the inspiring Reverend Ivory Barnes, its first minister. The present edifice, occupied beginning in 1937, has held high the banner of Christ. Inspired in its earliest days by the spirit of The Emancipation Proclamation and The Reconstruction following The Civil War. St. Mary's occupies a unique position at the foot of Lincolnville, and stands tall as a beacon of freedom and hope.
During the era of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s in St. Augustine, this church, through the stout-heartedness of its minister and N.A.A.C.P. leader, Rev. Thomas A. Wright, and other local leaders was the site of mass-meetings and a respite for the foot soldiers on the road in the quest for civil and human freedoms. These crusading examples, sustained through St. Mary's Missionary Baptist Church ordains it the Birthplace of The Civil Rights Movement in St. Augustine.
Presented by The Civil Rights Memorial Projects Committee of St. Augustine, Executive Committee: Gerald Eubanks, Chairman: Bernice Harper, Vice-Chairman: Joe Eubanks and Jimmie Wells, and
Supported by Henry "Hank" Thomas, Freedom Rider, 1961
Erected January 2006
St. Mary's Missionary Baptist Church was
founded on May 25, 1875 as an offshoot of 1st Baptist
Church The church was organized by Rev. Ivory Barnes.
He was followed in turn by Rev. Jackson, Sanders, Coleman and Rev. Cook. In 1884 they
purchased a 45 ft parcel of property on Washington Street for $38. The deeds were issued by
February 25, 1884.
Rev. W. T. Franklin was called as pastor on April 24, 1905. He stayed till March 4, 1909. The
acting pastor was Rev. J. W. Murray who stayed till October 1, 1909. Rev. G. J. Johnson was
called on November 1, 1909. He was followed by Rev. C. S. Daniels who served the month of
January 1913. Rev.
Jasper Davis was called as pastor on February 27, 1913. Under Rev. Davis the first organ was
purchased. Rev. H. L. Long was pastor for 1914. Rev. T. H. Rogers was called as pastor
December 29, 1917. A new building was constructed in 1920. The trustees in 1920 were A.
Sanks, H. Weldon, R. B. Kelton, Mc. Chaleton, A. Jelks, W. M. Smith, Jas. Gilyard, H. Moran,
Chairman.
The Rev. William Banks became pastor on October 5, 1924. On November 12, 1935 the old
building was condemned and the church began to move. First it was at the Benevolent Hall on St.
Francis Street. Then Coopers Hall on the corner of Park Place and Central Avenue. Finally the
new building was completed on February 29, 1937. In 1939 there was a church split and Rev.
William Banks resigned (August 27, 1939). 40 people went with him to build Bethel Baptist
Church on Riberia Street.
Rev. William Baxter was called in October 1939 and served for one year. Rev. Robert Leander
Jones was called in December 1940 from a church in Orlando, Florida. He paid the mortgage off,
petitioned the basement into class rooms and purchased a new organ in 1947. He resigned in
1949. Rev. T. J. Alston was the supply pastor in 1949 and finally called as pastor until 1952. Rev.
G. W. Phillips stayed from 1952 till 1954. Rev. Thomas A. Wright was called as Pastor on
November 4, 1954. He served for 7 1/2 years. The church purchased its first parsonage. Rev. H.
L. Smith was pastor through the civil rights years from 1962 through 1965. Rev. H. L. Patterson
served over 14 years as Pastor. Rev. Isaac Davis was called on February 10, 1982.
Civil Rights
During the 1950s St. Mary's came to life with Rev. Thomas Wright (Pastor from 1954-1962). He
attended Florida Memorial College. He helped reorganize the NAACP, serve as President of
Murray school PTA and would be active in non-violent training for the students that would take
part in the Woolworth lunch counter protest. Dr. Wright is the author of Courage in Persona.
St. Mary's would be the beginning site of many marches in the 60s.
Church The church was organized by Rev. Ivory Barnes.
He was followed in turn by Rev. Jackson, Sanders, Coleman and Rev. Cook. In 1884 they
purchased a 45 ft parcel of property on Washington Street for $38. The deeds were issued by
February 25, 1884.
Rev. W. T. Franklin was called as pastor on April 24, 1905. He stayed till March 4, 1909. The
acting pastor was Rev. J. W. Murray who stayed till October 1, 1909. Rev. G. J. Johnson was
called on November 1, 1909. He was followed by Rev. C. S. Daniels who served the month of
January 1913. Rev.
Jasper Davis was called as pastor on February 27, 1913. Under Rev. Davis the first organ was
purchased. Rev. H. L. Long was pastor for 1914. Rev. T. H. Rogers was called as pastor
December 29, 1917. A new building was constructed in 1920. The trustees in 1920 were A.
Sanks, H. Weldon, R. B. Kelton, Mc. Chaleton, A. Jelks, W. M. Smith, Jas. Gilyard, H. Moran,
Chairman.
The Rev. William Banks became pastor on October 5, 1924. On November 12, 1935 the old
building was condemned and the church began to move. First it was at the Benevolent Hall on St.
Francis Street. Then Coopers Hall on the corner of Park Place and Central Avenue. Finally the
new building was completed on February 29, 1937. In 1939 there was a church split and Rev.
William Banks resigned (August 27, 1939). 40 people went with him to build Bethel Baptist
Church on Riberia Street.
Rev. William Baxter was called in October 1939 and served for one year. Rev. Robert Leander
Jones was called in December 1940 from a church in Orlando, Florida. He paid the mortgage off,
petitioned the basement into class rooms and purchased a new organ in 1947. He resigned in
1949. Rev. T. J. Alston was the supply pastor in 1949 and finally called as pastor until 1952. Rev.
G. W. Phillips stayed from 1952 till 1954. Rev. Thomas A. Wright was called as Pastor on
November 4, 1954. He served for 7 1/2 years. The church purchased its first parsonage. Rev. H.
L. Smith was pastor through the civil rights years from 1962 through 1965. Rev. H. L. Patterson
served over 14 years as Pastor. Rev. Isaac Davis was called on February 10, 1982.
Civil Rights
During the 1950s St. Mary's came to life with Rev. Thomas Wright (Pastor from 1954-1962). He
attended Florida Memorial College. He helped reorganize the NAACP, serve as President of
Murray school PTA and would be active in non-violent training for the students that would take
part in the Woolworth lunch counter protest. Dr. Wright is the author of Courage in Persona.
St. Mary's would be the beginning site of many marches in the 60s.
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