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Brother Jeremiah Fitzgerald, a native of Danville, Virginia began our church in 1885. Having been reared in the Baptist church in Danville, Brother Fitzgerald was shocked after he migrated to Pittsburgh to find only three Baptists in the East Liberty section of the city. The three were Wilmore Johnson, Alexander Barbour and William Dangerfield.
The first meetings, overwhelming in power and spirit, were held in the home of Mrs. Melvina Dent. At one meeting where the Spirit prevailed the home was so filled with glad rejoicing and thanks-filled testimonies that the police broke up the meeting and dismissed its members. They arrested Brother Fitzgerald on charges of disturbing the peace of the neighborhood. The group suffered much humiliation from this unsavory incident. The meetings were moved to the home of Mrs. Thomas Ransome.
On the first Friday in May 1885, on a site that is at the rear of Rodman's current location, Fitzgerald, Johnson, Barbour, Dangerfield, Daniel Walker, Annie and Thomas Ransome, Samuel Loveless, Maria Bumbrey, and Amanda Holmes began to organize the present church. The first Sunday in May 1885 our church was set apart by the White Baptist Church in the 6400 block of Penn Avenue. The last Thursday in August of that year set the reorganization of the Salome Baptist Church, as we were then called. |
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An arsonist set fire to and destroyed the beacon light (our church house) that stood at the corner of Rodman Street and Collins Avenue for 85 years on Saturday, May 15, 1971. It was a dark day in the history of this house of God. While, many churches and buildings were offered to the membership for worship, Rev. Bowick foresightedly accepted the offer of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, located on Highland Avenue, just a few blocks from the site of the church. On Sunday, May 16,1971, we had services as usual, from Sunday school straight through Baptist Training Union.
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- Rev. Willis Duvall of the North Side was called to pastor this church in October 1885. He served for more than three years.
- Rev. R. S. Gibson of Charlottesville, Virginia also pastored Salome Baptist Church for three years before accepting a call to a church in New Jersey.
- Without a minister for three months, the assembled group called Rev. Oliver S. Simms of Halifax, Virginia.
- The Rev. S. A. Thurston D. D., a graduate of Virginia Union University, was called to Rodman Street Baptist Church in 1928. He was installed the fourth Sunday in November. Rev. Thurston passed away in 1959.
- In a church meeting held Thursday, July 21, 1960 Reverend George L. Bowick was called to pastor our church. He preached his first sermon as our new pastor on Sunday, October 2, 1960. As though he was satisfied that his work was accomplished, after 22 years of service to and for us, Pastor Bowick departed this life on February 27, 1982.
- At a special meeting of the church called on April 26, 1984, the Reverend Delano R. Paige of Beaver Falls, Pa. was voted to become Pastor elect of the Rodman Street Baptist Church. Rev. Paige officially took charge of the church on June 22, 1984. He was duly installed as the new shepherd on August 19, 1984 after a week of special inspiring services.
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The membership decided during a church business meeting in September 1972 to tear down the one remaining wall and to rebuild on the same site. Pastor and Mrs. Bowick and a small group of members secured a building permit in November 1972. Ground breaking for the new church occurred February 16, 1974. The new cornerstone, which was to have the names of the founder and of the present pastor, was laid on April 6, 1975 amidst special services.
During the rebuilding of the church Sixth Mt. Zion's facilities were used for many activities, choir rehearsals, and funerals. Rev. Bowick's office and the secretarial and mimeographing equipment were kept in the J. C. Hairston Center. As we watched a new church arose out of the ashes and debris. Rodman Street Baptist Church was again the beacon light on the corner of Collins Avenue and Rodman Street.
Services to enter our new sanctuary were prepared to coincide with the 90th church anniversary, but due to difficulties encountered by the contractor; our entrance was delayed until June 8, 1975. But talk about a time - on that Sunday we triumphantly marched from the Seminary on Highland Avenue and into our new church home!!! The theme for the occasion stated, "God Had Smiled On Us!" After a week of special services, the new Rodman Street Baptist Church was dedicated on June 15, 1975.
In 1985, during the celebration of the 100th Church Anniversary, Rev. Paige examined the original signed charter and discovered that the official church name was the "Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church". Since that time the church has assumed its entire proper name.
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