John Street Baptist Church marks 140 years in Worcester
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WORCESTER — The rich history of the John Street Baptist Church, which includes a 1952 appearance by Martin Luther King Jr., will be highlighted Sunday.
A service marking the 140th anniversary of the church is slated for 11 a.m.
John Street Baptist Church, 43 John St., was registered in 1885 as Mount Olive Baptist Church, a year after its Southern founders arrived and began worshipping in their homes. After meeting at 34 John St. for a few years, the church purchased its current spot in 1887, and by the time the building opened in 1891, the name had been changed to reflect the street on which it was located.
King, while a student at Boston University, made his way to John Street for a gathering in the fall of 1952. Marshall W. "Major" Taylor, the Black world champion bicycle racer who lived in Worcester, was a member of the church.
The service on Sunday will focus on the church's history, with multiple generations of families filling the familiar pews over the years.
"To be at same location for this long, and the church is still thriving, not just surviving, but thriviing….it's worth celebrating," said longtime church member I.B. Sokari.
The Rev. Adam Brusa of Tapestry Global Ministry, based in Skowhegan Maine, will be a guest at the anniversary service.
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Rev. Brusa, of Tapestry of Globa M
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: John Street Baptist Church marks 140 years in Worcester
