History to be revealed

YOUNGSTOWN

Representatives of the Historical Committee of Tabernacle Baptist Church, 707 Arlington St., will describe their efforts to reconstruct the history of their 108-year-old congregation during a presentation set for 10 a.m. Saturday at Kravitz’s Delicatessen, 3135 Belmont Ave., Liberty. The Ethnic Heritage Society is sponsoring the event.

The seven-member committee, led by JoAnn Blunt, worked closely over the past year with the Mahoning Valley Historical Society to uncover the congregation’s early history, which was shrouded in mystery. Assisted by MVHS Archivist Pam Speis, the committee confirmed the long-disputed date when the church was established and identified its founding pastor, the Rev. W.R. Wright, who had been overlooked in previous historical narratives. Blunt said that the committee found that official versions of the church’s history often were not accurate.

With the help of EHS co-coordinator Tom Welsh, the committee composed a narrative history of Tabernacle Baptist Church, ranging from its establishment in 1904 to the retirement of its “second founder,” the Rev. S.P. Phillips, in 1957. Later this month, the narrative will officially be presented to the congregation. Blunt noted that in time the committee plans to compose a second volume, which will track the congregation’s history from 1958 to the present.

The event is open to the public, and coffee and bagels will be provided. For more information, contact Welsh AT 330-792-7936. The EHS is an organization dedicated to supporting local immigrant and migrant communities and helping to preserve their heritage.