About

St. John Baptist Church has always found a way, for under the divinely inspired leadership of Reverend Burnie C. McCarley and four faithful followers, St. John launched on the sea of Christian endeavor in 1927. A group of kindred souls mostly from South Carolina found themselves in a new place and sought comfort and divine guidance for a place to meet and worship God. Mrs. Alice McCarley, Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Dora Kelly and Mrs. Mabel McCarley were the first members of St. John Baptist Church.  From a little storefront at 657 William Street, the church moved to 481 Clinton Street, then to 616 Clinton Street where St. John was incorporated. In 1930, St. John moved to 92 Monroe Street.

Through faith, prayer, and God’s grace, St. John had its first two converts: William Price and Willie Green. After these two, others came and united. Soon there were enough for a small senior choir and the first deacons appointed were Walter Price and Nathan Crockett. The Sunday school was organized, the Missionary Society, the Senior Usher Board and the Pastors Aid Society. By 1945, St. John had outgrown the 92 Monroe location and St. John members marched joyously to 183 Sycamore Street. The stately brick structure was purchased for $21,000. By July 1947, God had richly blessed St. John, and the mortgage on the church was paid in full.

Under the leadership of Reverend McCarley, ministers were ordained and new churches were founded. Sons of St. John include Reverends Peter Trammell (Mt. Calvary); T.C. Watson (Mt. Olive, Lackawanna, NY); Ivery Daniels (White Rock); and William T. Spencer (Mt. Sinai, Niagara Falls, NY). For many years, both Reverend W.B. Seals and Reverend O.C. Taylor assisted Reverend McCarley and also served other congregations. As the membership continued to grow, an even larger edifice was needed to accommodate the families, friends and visitors. Music was an integral part of the worship services and every Sunday morning choirs sang to the glory of God. With God’s blessings and the direction of talented musicians, the Bells of St. John, the United Voices of St. John also known as the hundred voice choir, the Youth and Young Adult Choir, Junior Choir and the Gospel Chorus all participated in the weekly worship services.

Nearly twenty years later, St. John again sought to accommodate the growing membership. At 183 Sycamore, Sunday school classes were held in the basement, in the sanctuary, and in the balcony; the ushers placed chairs in the aisles during Sunday morning services. After much prayer, discussion, and negotiation, it was decided that a new edifice should be built.  A multitude of prayers preceded the building fund drive, and continued while plans were developed and the site on Goodell between Maple and Michigan Streets was selected. The people had a mind to work and in 1966 the grand edifice at 184 Goodell Street was completed. On May 1, 1966, Reverend McCarley, the congregation, auxiliaries, and many others jubilantly marched from 183 Sycamore Street to the new church. Reverend McCarley’s vision of pastoring a large church had been realized. Many sacrifices had been made, many obstacles overcome, and many prayers answered. On March 10, 1972, Reverend McCarley answered the call to glory. The congregation, the community and the city mourned the loss of St. John’s founding pastor.

Several months later in 1972, Reverend Bennett W. Smith, Sr., was called to pastor St. John Baptist Church. Pastor McCarley had met Reverend Smith, then a pastor in Cincinnati, Ohio, when he came to preach a soul saving revival at St. John. Under Pastor Smith’s leadership, the church continued its progress in gaining souls and enlarging its territory. The mortgage was paid in full; a mission center opened; and a federally chartered credit union was opened in 1973. In 1980, Reverend McCarley’s vision for housing for low income families became a reality and was named McCarley Gardens in his honor; residents moved into homes on Burnie, Alice and Bennett Lanes. In 1982, Reverend Smith continued the housing focus and led the church to erect a 150 apartment senior complex, St. John Tower. Also a second-floor educational wing was added to the church.

Some of the ministers ordained under Pastor Smith were Reverends Jerry Stover, Ronnie Davis, J. Daryl Wood, Larry Watson, Herman Potts (Friendship Baptist, Lockport) and Michael Chapman, our current pastor. In 1973, Reverend Margaret Harvey was St. John’s first woman to be licensed as a minister followed by Phyllis Sloss, Ph.D. In September 1993, St. John Christian Academy opened its doors. Beginning with pre-kindergarten through second grade, the Academy expanded to eighth grade. The musical legacy of the church expanded with the addition of the Male Chorus and the Radio Choir which sang during the weekly eight o’clock worship service.

As a member of the Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC), St. John rejoiced in the election of its pastor, Reverend Dr. Bennett W. Smith, Sr., to the presidency of the organization in 1994. St. John hosted the 36th session of the Progressive National Baptist Convention in Buffalo, New York In 1997. During Pastor Smith’s tenure, a number of notable preachers and other national figures stood in the pulpit of St. John Baptist Church: Reverend Jesse Jackson, Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, Reverend Ralph Abernathy, Reverend Martin L. King, Sr. and Ron Brown (U.S. Secretary of Commerce), and Hillary Clinton (U.S. Senator from New York). On August 7, 2001, Reverend Smith was called from labor to reward. The Reverend Bennett W. Smith Senior Family Life Center stands as a testament to the life and work of Pastor Smith.

In 2002, Reverend Michael Chapman was installed as the third pastor of St. John Baptist Church. The number of prayer and worship services increased during his ministry as have opportunities to engage in outreach. Under the leadership of Reverend Chapman, over a dozen ministers have been licensed and ordained. Sons of St. John include Pastor Brian Robinson (Fillmore Community Church); Pastor Dwayne Jones (Mt. Aaron Baptist Church); Pastor Willie Reid (Beyond the Veil Christian Ministries) and Pastor D. Douglas Blakely (Promise Land Missionary Baptist Church).

Pastor Chapman oversaw the construction of St. John Hospice Buffalo House, a short term hospice residence in the Fruit Belt on Maple Street that provided care for individuals in an urban setting. It was the first time Hospice had partnered with a local church. Under his leadership, the Fruit Belt Community Development Corporation has built single family and townhouses to attract new residents and provide housing alternatives for current residents. In 2017, Pastor Chapman became the Overseer of the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church at 55 Grape Street. In 2018, under the administration of Dr. Timothy Stewart, president of the Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC), Pastor Chapman was appointed as the chair of economic development.

It was our legacy of faith that led Reverend Stewart to appoint Pastor Chapman. In December 2018, President Stewart graced St. John with a visit. Our legacy of faith was the source of inspiration that led him to accept the invitation to attend the 2018 Leadership Luncheon for the St. John Fruit Belt Community Development Corporation and to deliver the Sunday worship service sermon. Our legacy of faith will guide Pastor Chapman to author and implement a blueprint that will be framed with the partnership of the Master fostering good stewardship, economic growth and stability, promoting individual and organizational prosperity. There will be an expansion of faith related or faith inspired business, responsible investing and philanthropy that will be focused on the healing of the world, truly an assignment with a partnership and a legacy of faith. In 1st Corinthians 3:9, a testimony to our works states that we are laborers together with God…ye are God’s building.