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Thursday, 19 August 2004 |
The Walnut Street Baptist Church of Carbondale, Illinois was organized September 14, 1922 with 57 members. Preceding the organization of the church, a revival was held in a tent on the Brush school grounds, beginning September 3, 1922, with Rev. E. W. Reeder serving as evangelist. During the revival, the tent was moved to a vacant lot on west Walnut Street and plans were begun to start a new church. By September 27, 1922 church membership had increased to 135. Rev. Reeder was called as the first pastor and the church first met in the Woodman Hall over the Carbondale National Bank. In June of 1923, property was secured at the corner of Walnut and University Streets, where construction of a building was begun. The first service was held in the basement of this building on Sunday, December 30, 1923, and the sanctuary was occupied on May24, 1924. The building had been estimated to cost between $60,000 and $75,000, but it was constructed at a cost of only $40,000. The formal dedication services were held on September 14, 1924. This building has since been completely remodeled and is now the education building, housing many Sunday School classrooms as well as a Korean worship area. Over the years, adjacent property has been purchased and the construction of an auditorium was begun in 1950 and opened in 1951. The auditorium can seat approximately 500. Three other Southern Baptist Churches have come out of Walnut Street Baptist Church. Graham Street Baptist Church, which is now know as Lantana Baptist Church, University Baptist Church, and Lakeland Baptist Church have all grown from Walnut Street Baptist Church. |
The church has been served by 14 pastors during its 78 years. | E. W. Reeder | 1922 - 1929 | | C. W. Shields | 1930 - 1935 | | William A Carleton | 1937 - 1941 | | D. D. Tidwell | 1941 - 1945 | | C. H. Warren | 1945 - 1950 | | O. C. Cooper | 1950 - 1952 | | Bert I. Cherry | 1953 - 1965 | | Carl R. Watkins | 1965 - 1969 | | Bob Worley | 1970 - 1973 | | Carl R. Watkins | 1974 - 1978 | | Arthur E. Farmer | 1978 - 1983 | | P.T. Bailey | 1983 - 1987 | | Richard Rockwell | 1987 - 1990 | | Bill A. Carter | 1991 - 1998 | | Wesley C. Henson | January 1, 2000 - Present |
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