History of Sweet Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church
“A Good Place to Worship and Grow in Grace”
The Sweet Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, Inc. of Albany, New York began as a Mission on September 9, 1952, under the Pastorate of the late Reverend Charles E. Woodard, organizing Pastor. Noted as the charter members along with Reverend Woodard were; Sis, Maudine Bell, Bro. James Butler, Deacon Hezekiah Coward, Mother Mary Coward, Bro. Ira Edwards, Bro. James Edwards, Mother Charlie Mae Freeman, Sis. Catherine Johnson, Sis. Joan Lewis, Bro. Matthew Lewis, Bro. Ernest Reed, Sis. Mary VanAlstyne and Sis. Maude Woodard, First Lady. The Mission’s first location was established at 115 Arch Street in downtown Albany. The Mission remained there for a short period of four months, paying a monthly rental of $50. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Reverend Woodard led the Mission into purchasing the property located at 40 Franklin Street for the sum of $17,000. At that time the Mission was formally organized into a Missionary Baptist Church and staffed with church officers. Reverend Woodard served the Church as pastor for a period of seven years.
On July 11, 1959, the Reverend William Roland of New Jersey was called as the Church’s 2nd Pastor. Under his leadership, the Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Albany, pastored by Reverend C.E. McCoy, merged with Sweet Pilgrim. After 11 years of worshipping at the Franklin Street location, again under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Reverend Roland secured the present location of the Church on the corner of Ten Broeck Street and Clinton Avenue, which at the time was formally the Temple Baptist Church of Albany. On Sunday, March 15, 1970, the congregation marched from its 40 Franklin Street property into its new location and dedicated it to the glory of God. Revered Roland served the Church as Pastor until 1977.
During that period, the Church was without Pastoral leadership. After satisfying the bank loan, on Sunday, October 16, 1978, Sweet Pilgrim burned the mortgage on its present location. The Revered Dr. John Henry Wilkerson was later called as the Church’s 3rd Pastor and installed on Sunday, August 26, 1979. Reverend Wilkerson served as Pastor until the early part of 1982. On September 26, 1982, the Reverend Haywood D. Bellamy of the Bethel Baptist Church of Troy, New York was called as the Church’s 4th pastor and was installed on Sunday, February 13, 1983. Under the pastorate of Reverend Bellamy, the Church began a total sanctuary renovation project in September 1982, which was completed and dedicated to the glory of God in February 1983. Revered Bellamy served faithfully as Pastor until his untimely death on August 7, 1992. After a period of mourning, on February 20, 1993, the Reverend Andrew J. Rollinson of Gastonia, North Carolina was called as the 5th Pastor and was installed on Sunday, June 27, 1993. Following the pastorate of Reverend Rollinson, the Reverend Willis F. Bruton, a son of Sweet Pilgrim, then serving as Associate Minister of the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church of Albany, New York was called as the Church’s 6th Pastor and was installed on Sunday, April 18, 1999. Reverend Bruton led the Church into the concept of stewardship and tithing, which tremendously blessed and grew the Church. Reverend Bruton also led the Church in a multi-million dollar restoration project, which was completed and dedicated to the glory of God in 2003. Due to illness, Revered Bruton retired from the pastorate in April 2009.
On March 23, 2010, the Reverend Dr. Elgin Joseph Taylor, Sr. of the Shiloh Baptist Church of Hudson, New York was called as the Church’s 7th Pastor. Pastor Taylor was installed on Saturday, July 3, 2010. Pastor Taylor, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit continues to lead the Church in numerous renovation projects and thrust upon its million dollar vision building expansion project, which includes the developing of the vacant lot next to the Church. This project will enable the installation of an elevator, education classrooms/multi-purpose rooms among other renovation projects. Sweet Pilgrim has been noted in the Capital District region for its weekly Soup Kitchen which serves hot meals every Saturday.
Sweet Pilgrim has remained a vital part of the Hudson River Frontier Missionary Baptist Association, Inc. as a founding Church, the Empire Baptist Missionary Convention of New York, Inc., the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc., the Capital Area Council of Churches and the Capital District Tri Cities Revival. We look forward with great anticipation for the unfolding of the vision. While the vision is yet for an appointment time, like the Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:6 “We are confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
“And I say also unto thee, the thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; and whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.”
Matthew 16:18-19 (KJV)