Church History

History of Union Baptist Church

May 12, 1893 - 2024

The congregation of Union Baptist Church is proud of the history of the 125 years of continuous service that the Union Baptist Church has rendered to each community of which it has been a part.

The Union Baptist Church was organized at Sparrows Point, Maryland on May 12, 1893 by a group of regenerated Baptist believers in Christ. They had come to Sparrows Point from the south seeking employment in the steel mills located there.

Since there was no church there, they felt that it was their Christian duty to establish one. They joined together for spiritual purposes and held religious meetings in a school house building located at 6th and J Streets. This led to the organization of the Union Baptist Church with W. H. Booker as its first pastor.

After a period of spiritual growth and financial stability, they erected their first church building on the corner of 9^th and J Streets and remained there until 1916. The next church was erected at Sparrows Point under the leadership of the late C.Z. Parker. The following ministers succeeded the late W.H. Booker in the pastorate of Union Baptist Church: C.Z. Parker, William Freeman, James Robb, James Martin, J.W. Pearson, C.C. Crocket, C.J. Garnet (1921-1924), H.E. Tucker (1924-1929), C.H. Coleman, D.D. (1930-1950), Carlton Cook (1950-1974).

Union Baptist Church marched into the building located at 105 Main Street in Turners Station on the first Sunday in January 1974 where it is currently located. The building was deeded to the church by the late Dr. Joseph Thomas.

There were many hardships and obstacles that had to be overcome. The church was under a financial strain because of the cost of the move and the expense of converting what had been a movie theatre into a modern church building.

Under the leadership of the late Dr. William E. Johnson, Sr. and the determination of its members, the church became free of debt and was able to burn its mortgage in 1984. At the time of his death in 2004, Dr. Johnson was acclaimed as a pastor who reached out to the community and to all humanity.

Union Baptist Church is now under the capable stewardship of Rev. Willard E. Johnson who succeeded his father in 2004. In a short time Rev. Willard E. Johnson has proven himself and is following a long tradition of dedicated and capable ministers who have served Union Baptist Church well down through the years.

We, the congregation at Union Baptist Church feel that we are blessed that we have a pastor who is well known to us and has a long association with us. We have confidence in his ability to lead and we feel that he is truly anointed to preach the word of God. Praise the Lord! Union Baptist Church continues to serve the Turners Station community after being in existence more than 122 years. We pray that our church will continue to be a place of hope and refuge for all who are walking in darkness and under the stress of this world.