St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church was organized in 1910 by Rev. Benjamin J. Wilson and with ten (10) loyal members. The church was originally located on Main Street Extended and later moved to a structure on Wallace Place at Long Street (McEwen). The membership soon grew to approximately thirty members. I

 

In 1917, Rev. Wilson and the congregation purchased a little imitation brick frame house located at 940 South Lauderdale Street. The terms of the purchase: $500.00 down, 100.00 first payment, $20.00 for forty months and $25.00 for thirty-two months, for a total of $2,300.00. The building became the permanent home of the St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church. This structure was renovated in 1959. After the church was renovated, the name on the cornerstone was changed to "The Greater St. Mark Baptist Church"; the name didn't catch on.

 

Rev. Wilson was not only the pastor and a teacher of God's word; he was a visionary who focused his ministry toward "A Greater St. Mark". When Rev. Wilson organized the St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, he was employed as a coal peddler, even after he became pastor he continued working for several years. During his ministry, he worked six days a week, served as the Deacon, as well as the janitor, but on Sunday, he would teach and preach God's word. During his 55 years of pastoring, the church continued to grow. Rev. Wilson was known throughout the city and the surrounding areas. Rev. Wilson served faithfully until his death in the spring of 1965. At his death, he had been a minister longer than any other pastor at a Black Church in the city of Memphis.

 

In May of 1965, Rev. Woodrow W. Miller was elected pastor. He was a faithful and dedicated servant until his death in May of 1966. After the death of Rev. Miller, a search committee was commissioned to find not just a preacher, but a good pastor and leader. Rev. Johnny Clarence Bachus took the helm of pastor of the fifty-six year old St. Mark Baptist Church on Sunday, November 6, 1966. Like his predecessors, Rev. Bachus was not only the pastor: for ten years he continued to work his day job as a factory laborer five days a week. On Wednesday nights, he would teach in bible studies and preach the gospel on Sundays. Under the leadership of Rev. Bachus, the church has made a tremendous amount of progress. The church has not only been blessed spiritually, physically and economically, but has grown in size and numbers under the tutelage of Rev. Bachus. The Church has produced several ministers that are spreading God's word.

 

In 1974, the membership authorized Rev. J.C. Bachus, the deacons and trustees to purchase properties around the church for future expansion. Since 1974, Twenty- seven parcels of land have been purchased for this purpose. In October 1976, a new main sanctuary was completed and dedicated ten (10) years later in October 1985. The sanctuary mortgage was burned.

 

In May of 1988, the church was blessed with the construction of a new wing added to the south side of the main sanctuary to handle the need for additional seating and another facility. The J.C. Bachus Multi-Purpose Building (Gymnasium) which houses the pastor's study and administrative office, conference room, classroom, a fully equipped state of the art kitchen/ dining area and sports ministry. The sports ministry is not only open to the immediate church population, but also "embraces the community with God's Love".

 

In 1990, the old sanctuary now known as the Rev. B. J. Wilson Fellowship Hall was remodeled and converted into a two story structure, which houses the Sunday School Department. In the same year a wing was added to the north side of the main sanctuary adding seventy-five seats, which balanced the appearance of the sanctuary. In 2001, the multi-purpose building was expanded to increase the size of the kitchen facilities and dining area. The church has been blessed with convenient parking lots for the membership and two fifteen-passenger vans to serve a variety of transportation needs.

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On November 6, 2018, the City Council approved street name changed.  On January 11, 2019, the City of Memphis along with the St. Mark congregation, family, friends and community honored Pastor Bachus by renaming the stretch of area from South Lauderdale and E. H. Crump Boulevard to Lauderdale Street and Walker Avenue: Rev. J. C. Bachus Boulevard.  November 2019 marked the 53rd year of Rev. Bachus’ pastoring at St. Mark.  On October 27, 2019 after faithfully serving as Pastor for 53 years, Pastor Bachus passed the torch into the hands of Rev. Marvin Mims, Sr. as the new Pastor of St. Mark incorporating a “Church Vision Statement” to become a first-class Church for ministry, for healing, helps and wholeness for families in Memphis.  I Corinthians 12:28.  On October 24, 2021, Pastor Marvin Mims, Sr. was installed as Pastor of St. Mark Baptist Church.  After one hundred and ten years, St. Mark is still strong. 

 

Christian Education is a major focus at St. Mark M. B. Church under the direction of our pastor and leadership staff. The Church offers workshop seminars, leadership classes and a new member’s class to promote Christian growth. All new members are encouraged to attend the new member's classes. The classes are designed to give new members an overview of the church as well as a member's responsibilities within the church doctrine. All members are welcome to take the classes for the first time or go back for a refresher class if he/she desires to do so.

 

St. Mark has the unacknowledged reputation of being the oldest Black Baptist Church in the Memphis area that has had only three pastors since its church was established. After one hundred and two years, St. Mark is still strong. We plan to continue to "walk by faith and not by sight", realizing that "we can do all things through Christ which strengthens us." It is our intention to remain a place for Spiritual Renewal, Christian Education and for winning souls for Jesus Christ.