Since March 15, 1896.

The church body of Highland Park Baptist Church has served the community since
March 15, 1896.
     Conceived as a Sunday school mission for south Columbia by First Baptist Church on
March 11, 1896, the church held its first meeting March 15 in a house on East 15th Street,
which was rented for $2.50 a month.
     In 1897, the church purchased a lot at the corner of East 15th and Whatley streets
as the site of its first permanent building.
     The small mission became a church constituted as Second Baptist Church
January 14, 1915.  The 20 charter members of the new church called the Rev. Rufus Beckett
of Mt. Pleasant as their first pastor.

Current Location

On December 10, 1946, the church voted to purchase a lot with the residence at the
corner of Highland Avenue and East 17th Street for $10,000.00
In 1951 the house was moved to the back of the property, and in 1952 the church,
using the Broadway Plan of financing, began construction of the present building.  It was
during that same year, the congregation voted to change the name to Highland Park
Baptist Church.
The first worship service was held on site August 23, 1953, though the building was not yet finished.  The Rev. T. Riley Davis preached the service.
The first service to be held in the completed sanctuary was October 25, 1953.
Between 1915 and 1953 the church had 15 pastors.  Since moving into the present
building in 1953, there have been seven pastors.

History of Progress

1953–1957

  • Additional property purchased around the current church facility
  • Northside Mission Chapel begun

1956–1979

  • Remaining parcels of property surrounding the church purchased and house removed
  • Church adds a steeple to the building
  • New instruments purchased for sanctuary
  • Northside Chapel built and congregation organized into a church
  • Groundbreaking and start of new pre-school wing

1973–1975

  • Construction of preschool wing completed and renovation of other areas.
  • Early Lifestyle Training Facility opens in 1981, later converted to full-time day care in 1986
  • HELP Club ministry begun (forerunner of Joy 55), 1978
  • The church sells the pastorium and begins giving the pastor a housing allowance

1979–1982

  • Renovation of old concrete room which was then used for the daycare director’s office and library
  • Additional men’s restroom added at the end of fellowship hall

June 1992-July 1997

  • Fellowship hall total renovation through the “Challenge to Build” program

August 1998-2010

  • Pre-school Wing named in honor of former pastor
  • Daycare closes its doors Feb. 29, 2000
  • Renovation to children’s and youth ministries suites on third floor
  • Expansion of music and drama ministries with three to four major worship presentations per year plus youth choir mission trips
  • Sunday night programs become “Christian Life University” adding programs such as AWANA for children, parenting, Financial Peace, weight-loss support, etc.
  • Purchase of new church bus

1996–Present

  • Reconstruction of Hatcher Lane Entrance and front entrance wheelchair ramp.
  • Beyond Measure Campaign for renovation of interior.
  • The body of Christ known as Highland Park Baptist Church continues to grow and find ways to meet the needs of its members, the community, and the world beyond. It is our prayer that we will truly fulfill our mission statement: To be a church that
puts God first by being Christ-centered and community focused.