HISTORY
Oakwood Baptist Church began as a Sunday School Mission by the Broadway Baptist Church in May, 1903.
Its first meeting place was a store building on Springdale Avenue, just west of N. Central Street.
As the Sunday School grew, new quarters were needed and a five room house located on the corner of
Burwell and Harvey was purchased and remodeled into Sunday School space.
The congregation was organized into a church May28, 1905 by the Broadway Baptist Church.
All the charter members came from Broadway Baptist Church. The name selected by the congregation was
Calvary Baptist Church. Rev. J.W. Crowe, a student at Carson-Newman College, became
the first pastor of the church and served until 1908. In 1906, the name was changed to Oakwood Baptist Church.
In 1910, a permanent building site was purchased on Columbia Avenue and the first building was erected.
At this time George W. Edens was pastor. A second building program was concluded in 1937 when
the main auditorium was erected. A third building program to construct the educational building was completed during
the tenure of L.C. Roberts who has the distinction of serving the longest of any pastor of Oakwood.
Several remodeling projects have taken place of the years. The cottage houses the offices and Media Library.
In 1975, the church auditorium was remodeled and the canopy added to the front.
God has blessed our people in many ways during our years of existence. Oakwood Baptist Church has undergone
changes over the years,but our ministry has remained strong. We look forward in faith to the future.
