MT. CALVARY’S MISSION STATEMENT

“It is our goal to exalt our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, by worshipping, working, and witnessing under the Holy Spirit’s control; to edify the saints through Biblical preaching and teaching ministries designed to enhance the entire human.

HISTORY OF MT. CALVARY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

• Prior to 1830, there was no church building in Jackson for black or white Baptist worshipers.
• A prominent slave owner, Prior Lee, donated bricks to build a church for whites, which is today First Baptist Church. Blacks were allowed to hold services in the basement of First Baptist.
• Helm, named for the Helm family, grew out of First Baptist as the first black church in Jackson, Mississippi. After prayerful consideration, the men and women of North Jackson, tired and weary of walking and riding horses, decided to erect their own church. Thus, Mt. Calvary is a direct offspring of Mt. Helm.

Mt. Calvary began in 1864 as a Brush Arbor on Ridgewood Road in Jackson on the estate of the late Myles Homes, Sr., land he purchased for twenty-five dollars and acre. Later one acre of land was purchased on Briarwood Drive, where a small wood-framed church was built. After complaints from the white residents about the church services, one acre of land was purchased from the late Rev. Alexander Holmes, Sr. The church relocated closer to the black residents on the same street in 1942.

• Instructors from Tougaloo College not only attended church services, but taught Sunday School and recognized the need to teach reading and writing.

A school, which included grades 1-8, was started in 1876.

• Because of the expansion of the new Highway 55, the church was not able to remain on Briarwood, nor would the structure tolerate movement again. In 1951, this structure was torn down. A new white stone structure was built on two lots at the current site of Hillcrest and Bonita Streets under the chairmanship of Deacon Walter Blue, Sr.
• The late Rev. Georgia Hines, Sr. was the leader of Mt. Calvary during the transition from Briarwood Drive to the current site. A debt of eternal gratitude is due to the New Hope A.M.E. Church on Vine Street in Tougaloo, where worship services were held while a new structure was being built. Rev. Hines conducted service at New Hope.

After many years of hard work and devoted services, the new structure was dedicated in 1955 under the late Rev. E.C. Stinson. Rev. Stinson was noted for his spiritual preaching and informal style of communicating with members.