In 1925, Calvin Coolidge became the first President of the United States to have his inauguration
broadcast on the radio, the Jazz Age was in full swing, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington made their
first recordings, African American Tom Lee rescued 32 people from a steamship sinking in the Mississippi,
the Scopes monkey trial started a national debate over teaching evolution in schools. New York City
became the largest city in the world, and in April 1925, St. Paul’s Baptist Church made its debut into the
history of the state of PA PA and the borough of Conshohocken.

Driven from their homes by unsatisfactory economic opportunities and harsh segregation laws, many
African Americans migrated to cities and towns in the North to escape the oppressive conditions of the
South---unfair labor practices, unfair legal system, lynchings, inequality in education, and denial of
suffrage. Others were recruited by companies that sent labor agents to recruit industrial workers. The
Alan Wood Steel Company was one of those companies needing laborers for the steel industry. In 1925,
the Alan Wood Steel Company produced more than 8% of the nation’s steel and employed more than
5,000 residents. Because of the company’s labor force demand, African Americans living in the South
were recruited and urged to relocate to Conshohocken where they could live and work with the
assurance of earning a decent wage. As a result, an influx of African Americans settled in
Conshohocken– the destination of choice for many who had migrated from South Carolina in search of a
better life.

Many recruited men lived in camps on the Alan Wood Company premises. Upon learning of their
presence in Conshohocken, the late Reverend J. F. Shepherd, Pastor of the Conshohocken Presbyterian
Church, felt the need to welcome them, and speak to them about the Lord. When he visited the
Schuylkill Iron Works and Steel Mills where many of the men were, he was accompanied by Reverend
Marshall W. Lee who, at that time, was a licensed minister at Siloam Baptist Church in Norristown and a
student at Temple University in Philadelphia. It is written that “the men were very attentive to the
preaching of the Word and sang many hymns.’’ After one of the Sunday evening meetings, the late
Walter M. Woods, a laborer in the mills who lived on Colwell Lane, approached Reverend Lee about the
need for a Baptist church and suggested “We should have a Baptist church here.” Reverend Lee
responded by saying “We have one colored church here and perhaps that may be sufficient, but if you
think it is necessary to have another, go ahead.“

The late Reverend Phillips, former Pastor of the Balligomingo Church, and Mr. Rush Barr, a teacher, who
taught the Conshohocken Methodist Church Men’s Bible Class, encouraged Reverend Lee to “take this
work over.” Reverend Lee remarked “If the people want me they will let me know.” Reverend Lee was
invited to “take over the work in 1924 and secured the old James Hall Carpet Mill in West Conshohocken
from the Alan Wood Company to hold services. Different ministers were invited to preach. Our church
history tells us that a benevolent group was also started and met in the home of Ms. Demmie Hill Milton
to respond to the needs of new migrants and their families struggling to adjust to life in a new
community.

On April 29, 1925, Reverend Marshall W. Lee invited Mrs. Demmie Hill Milton, Walter Woods, Stephen
Solomon and Mrs. Mattie Smith to meet with Reverend J. B. Pratt, Pastor of Siloam Baptist Church of
Norristown, PA and three delegates (Deacon J. M. Meade, Deacon Franklin, and Deacon James N. Livers)
to ‘join Siloam and procure letters to recognize and organize a Baptist Mission in Conshohocken, PA.”
During this historic meeting, the Reverend J. B. Pratt was selected to serve as Chairman, Sister Mattie Hill
was selected Secretary, Brother Walter G. Woods became the Treasurer, and Brother Walter G. Woods
was elected Deacon.

During the meeting, a call to the pastorate was extended to Reverend Lee to become the Pastor of the
St. Paul’s Mission and he accepted. Reverend Pratt provided him with instructions on his “duty.”
Reverend Lee was instructed “not to marry, serve communion, baptize, or preach funerals.” Brother
William Johnson, Sister Mamie Johnson, Brother Ira Butler, Brother James Hill, Sister Frances Green, and
Sister Ruby Hill joined as full members of the St. Paul’s Mission (Meeting minutes dated April 29, 1925).
At the close of the meeting, Reverend Pratt proclaimed that ” this St. Paul’s Baptist Mission had been
organized and could call the various Baptist churches together to recognize it as a church.”
On July 7, 1925 “In pursuance to the call of a company of brethren and sisters who had organized
themselves into a Missionary Baptist Church known as the St. Paul’s Baptist Church, eight churches met
on July 7, 1925 to “consider the propriety of recognizing St. Paul’s Baptist Church as a regular and
independent church of Christ.” (July 7, 1925 Meeting minutes of Recognition Council of the New
England Baptist Missionary Convention, Inc.).

In November 1925, a Council of Baptist Churches was called to ordain Reverend Marshall W. Lee, and after being examined, he was ordained into the gospel ministry. St. Paul’s Baptist Church became incorporated under Pennsylvania law in March 1926. In August of 1927, the members of St. Paul’s Baptist Church authorized a building committee consisting of Reverend Marshall W. Lee, Chairman Watson Hill, Secretary Willie Jackson, Charles Beatty, and Jesse Nash to have erected for them a church building situated on the northeast corner of Third Avenue and Hallowell Street in Conshohocken. The building was made possible through the fundraising efforts of 45 dedicated members, and the stones were donated by the Alan Wood Steel Company in Conshohocken. On August 16, 1948, a properly executed Satisfaction of Mortgage was presented to Reverend Lee from the American Baptist Home Mission Society.

Under Reverend Lee’s leadership, the first annex to the church was completed in 1950; the parsonage
was purchased and renovated in 1955; and the upper social room was furnished and decorated in 1959.
The construction of the existing choir loft started in 1960. A team consisting of Rev. Marshall W. Lee,
Deacon James Groves, Sr., Deacon Joseph Vereen, Deacon Randolph Banks, and Brother Robert Graham,
a son of St. Paul’s and student architect, were limited to the expansion outside based upon the zoning
code side yard requirements. An ingenious plan was instituted to excavate outside but build below
ground to leave space to comply with the code requirements of the side yard distances. On a weekend
when everyone was available, they hand excavated the soil out of the side of the building making sure
that when they opened the stone wall from the inside the space would line up to seat the whole choir
and balance the interior. A new piano was purchased, and storm windows and Venetian blinds were
installed.

The planning of the new addition to the church fellowship hall began in Rev. Lee’s home in 1964 with
Reverend Lee, Sister Olive Banks, and Brother Robert Graham. Brother Graham was tasked to develop
the drawings. He recalls that “he persuaded Reverend Lee to connect his house with the new addition.”
The building was designed with the help of Sister Olive Banks who had experience in drafting.
Construction was completed in 1967. Reverend Marshall W. Lee served as pastor of St. Paul’s for 51
years until he died in 1976.

Upon Reverend Lee’s death, Reverend James A. Groves, Sr., his Assistant, was ordained and installed as
the second pastor of St. Paul’s in 1977. We are proud of Reverend Groves because St. Paul’s is the
church where he received his early Christian training. Under Reverend Groves’ leadership, the sanctuary
was renovated and a balcony was erected in the rear of the church in 1981. Reverend Groves served
faithfully for 20 years until his sudden death in 1996. On June 22, 1997, Reverend Leon Lowry, an Associate Minister of the church, was installed as the third
pastor and served for seven years.

Reverend Myrna E. Graham, an Associate Minister of St. Paul’s, was ordained in 2004 and served for six
years as Acting Pastor until her retirement in 2010. Under Reverend Graham’s six-year leadership, a new
piano was purchased, the Sunday school continued to grow, and the Inspirational Choir was formed.
Reverend Walter and Reverend LaFrance Johnson came to St. Paul’s in 2006. They assisted Reverend
Graham until the time of her retirement. Reverend Walter Johnson served as Guest Minister until March
2014.

On May 18, 2014, Reverend Dr. Marjorie Duncan Reed was installed as the fourth pastor of St. Paul’s
Baptist Church and served for ten years until her retirement in May 2024. Under her leadership, church
ministries were reorganized and three Deacons were ordained in March 2024– Deacon Lucius Carter,
Deacon Tim Tyler, and Deacon Joyce Mangum-Walker, who became the church’s first ordained female
Deacon. During Reverend Reed’s tenure, the Archives Ministry and the Women’s Ministry were
established. There was a re-establishment of a collegial relationship between St. Paul and other
churches in the surrounding communities and a renewed participation with the Suburban Baptist
Association during Reverend Ree’s tenure. Several improvements were made to the church building
including replacing parts in the heating unit, replacing three air conditioner units, and putting into place
a computerized bookkeeping system. Renovations were made to the parsonage, now known as the
Administrative Annex including a newly renovated kitchen, new carpeting, living room furniture, the
addition of a television, conference table and chairs, and rooms repurposed as offices for the Pastor,
Finance, Archives, and the Church School Ministries. The windows in the sanctuary were cleaned and
resealed, and the audio-visual system was upgraded with televisions and cameras. The social room was
repainted and its audio-visual system was upgraded to a remote adjustable screen with its sound system
which now connects with the audio-visual system in the sanctuary for overflow. A small room formerly
used as a laundry located on the first floor of the Annex was converted into a space where the Deacons
can now conduct financial matters.

January 2020 arrived with a mysterious, new pneumonia-like illness that could be transmitted from
human to human. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the
coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic. For most people, the COVID-19 crisis first
became a reality when the death rise became known. In response to the pandemic, Pennsylvania
began enacting strict restrictions to public gatherings and access to non-vital businesses, curfews,
quarantines, personal hygiene restrictions, and societal isolation. Residents were ordered to stay at
home except for life-sustaining activities. While many places were ordered to close under
Pennsylvania’s efforts, churches and religious gatherings were not restricted.

Even though the pandemic halted in-person worship services in March 2020 and forced churches to
use alternatives for a while, it did not hinder the work of the church’s ministries under Reverend
Reed’s leadership. She showed that she was up to the challenge. Instead, she and the church and
ministry leaders found alternatives to in-person gatherings to protect the congregants. Throughout
the ensuing months, Sunday morning worship services, Sunday School, Bible Study, Prayer Sessions,
Wednesday Evening Prayer and Bible Study, the Morning Church Prayer Line, Noonday Prayer, New
Year’s Eve Services, and Lenten Services were held virtually through the use of telephones or via
Zoom–a communication platform that connects with video, audio, phone and chat.

In March 2021, the Centers for Disease Control recommended that people who were fully vaccinated
against COVID-19 could safely gather with other fully vaccinated people indoors without masks and
social distancing. Reverend Reed followed these guidelines and officially and the church returned to
in-person Sunday morning worship on May 1, 2021. Since the coronavirus could easily be spread
through singing–an essential part of the worship experience in the St. Paul‘s tradition–all church choirs
were halted until it was safe to resume.

Reverend Anthony Richardson and Sister Mattie Jeffers were welcomed into the church family when
Sunday morning worship services were held on Zoom. Formerly a member of Agape Baptist Church in
Philadelphia, Reverend Richardson now serves as Associate Minister.

Sister Charmaine R. Maddrey-Smith, Sister Rose Mobley, and Sister Carla Gardener joined the church
and were welcomed as new members in 2024. Dr. Reed baptized Brother Shawn Butler and Sister Asia
Butler and they were welcomed as new members in 2024, and Reverend Richardson and Sister Shirley
Fields became additions to the Sunday School Teacher Ministry. A new floor was installed in the social
room kitchen in January 2025.

While St. Paul’s has had its challenges, the Lord has never left our side, and we stand tall in the
Conshohocken community as a testament to what the will of God can do when His people accept God’s
will and follow him. We can take comfort in the knowledge that its rich tradition was made possible by
faith, determination, courage, and the character of those who founded our church in 1925. So as we look
forward to celebrating 100 years, let us remember our blessings and most importantly, do what we can
to be a blessing to others.

St. Paul’s has been shining brightly for 100 years for several reasons–strong leadership, pastors with a vision and the strength to pursue their visions, a strong belief in God, the fortitude and love of its members toward one another that has never dimmed and the grit to toughen up in hard times. We are and will continue to be light in the Conshohocken community. May faith in the unseen that guided our Founders and church leaders continue to guide us as we move forward with God’s grace, mercy, and immense love.

Written by Dr. S. Jean Wilson, Church Archivist
April 2025