​History

Led by a handful of people who came out of St. John Baptist Church, the Fifth Street Missionary Baptist Church had its beginning at the home of Pearl R. Williams at 1001 N.E. 2nd Street.The original name of the new church was Mount Rose Baptist Church. Rev. S.S. Jones was called as the first Pastor and served the balance of 1929. Robert H. Rolfe purchased the land to build the church on the corner of 5th and Phillips Street. The first edifice was built by the male members of the church toward the back of the lot on the alley. In August 1929, there was a grand march form the Odd Fellows Hall 529 ½ N.E. 4th Street to the new place of worship.  Initial services were held at the site on August 4, 1929.

 

Rev. J.L. Hawkins was called as Pastor in 1930.  Other ministers served in the following order; Rev. S.C. Roberts, acting Pastor, 1931; Rev. W.M. Dixon, 1932-1933; Rev. C.T. Andrews, 1934-1938. During the recovery period from Depression, Rev. J.H. Winn, pastor of the Greater St James Baptist Church, Fort Worth, TX, was engaged to conduct a revival for the church; he became Pastor in November 1938.  He immediately inspired the members to build a sanctuary facing Fifth Street.

 

To meet these increasing demands, in 1951, Rev. J.B. Bratton, Jr. was called as assistant to Dr. J.H. Winn and became Pastor in 1954 following Rev. Winn’s retirement.  The rapid and constant growth in church membership required additional educational and worship facilities resulting in ground breaking ceremonies in 1961. n 1962, the building was completed by Bro. G. M. Dodson.

 

Rev. A.F. Fleming was called as interim Pastor and served until December 1963.  Rev. R.M. Leffall was called in February of 1964 and served until May 1968. Rev. J.T. Wilson was called in 1968. Only seven years had expired before the mortgage was liquidated in 1969.  He served until 1971.  Rev. N. Lawrence Liggins, Sr. was called to serve in November 1971, and served until 1976. Rev. James O. Bradford was called to Pastor in 1976. Many capital improvements were made under his leadership.  The purchase of a new parsonage at 616 N.E. 19th Street and the completion of the west side parking lot were his projects.

 

Rev. Fred Elkins was installed as Pastor on May 22, 1988.  Trusting in his Holy Word and under the leadership of Fred L. Elkins, a 3-yr multipurpose wing financial building plan was enacted in 1990.  It led to the groundbreaking for the Fellowship Hall on Jun 26, 1994.  Bro. William Moore, building contractor completed the Fellowship Hall and it was dedicated November 2, 1997.

 

The Church was blessed that Rev. A. Byron Coleman, III, received and accepted the call to come to Fifth Street in June of 1998. Pastor Coleman’s continuous teaching on tithing and faithfulness to God enabled this congregation to “Burn the Mortgage” on the Fellowship Hall December 3, 2006 as opposed to the 30 years as contracted.

 

Fifth Street’s involvement in the Civil Rights Movement in Oklahoma City included the efforts of Sister Clara Luper and several of the youth member of Fifth Street.  Prior to desegregation, many of the minority business owners of this city were members of Fifth Street.  Some are still in business today and have become icons in the community.  Businesses such as Rolfe Funeral Home, Moore Construction, Moon construction and Florence’s Restaurant.