| History of the Church |
The Rev. John Henry Smith came to Portsmouth Ohio, on April 24, 1917. On the fourth
Sunday in July of 1917 at 3:00 p.m., he called together a small group of people and
conducted an open air service on a vacant lot at the corner of 15th and Waller Streets,
where Pleasant Green Baptist Church now stands. Services were held each Sunday for a
month. On the first Sunday in September, they met in a little store front rented from Mrs.
Laura E. Rowe for $8.00 per week. After housing the group, Rev. J.H. Smith asked Rev. G.
W. Hayes to take charge as he had in mind to go to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Advised by Rev. J. H. Smith, the Rev. G. W. Hayes began to organize an Orthodox Baptist
Church.
Rev. G.W. Hayes, seeing that Rev. J.H. Smith was still in town, asked him to conduct revival
services for him, the first week in October. Instead of conducting the meeting himself, Rev. J.
H. Smith secured the services of Rev. J.B. Burns. Many were added to the membership
during this revival.
Upon the suggestion of Rev. J. H. Smith, a council of Preachers and Deacons met on the
fourth Sunday in October at 3:00 p.m., and accepted this group as a regular Baptist
Church. There were 22 people in the organization of the church of which only one, Mrs.
Pearl Owens still resides in Portsmouth.
A committee was appointed to decide on a name for the congregation. The committee
consisted of Mrs, Mary Owens, Rev. H Garner and Mrs. Mollie Davis. Acting on the
suggestion of Mrs. Owens, the committee brought in the name, Beulah Baptist. The church
agreed, and thus Mrs. Mary Owens was credited for the name of the church.
In 1918, the call was extended to Rev. J. B. Burns who resigned after serving one year. On
the first Sunday in January, 1919, Rev. J. H. Smith accepted the call to serve with the
understanding that he would serve for three months. In three months his work was so
successful that at the regular meeting in March 1919, the Church called Rev. Smith to serve
as the church pastor and Rev. Jessie Smith was made Assistant Pastor to his father.
On September 19,1919 a three room cottage located at 1226-14th Street was selected and
eventually converted into a room large enough for worship. In August, 1920 the first Choir
was organized.
In 1925 the parsonage and sanctuary was built on their present lots. They were dedicated
for service the fourth Sunday in March, 1929.
August 19, 1946, the Church debts were located and on October 27, 1946 the mortgage
was burned. During the 29th Church Anniversary it was voted the Rev. J.H. Smith would be
the pastor for the balance of his life. He was at that time the only minister in the State of Ohio
to organize, buy, build and payoff the debt of a church.
On April 15, 1956 the Church called Rev. Charles Smith to become the Pastor. During that
time a choir stand was added and the interior of the church was redecorated along with
adding a new piano and new doors.
Rev. E. R. Flint was called to serve as pastor but did not accept the call until June 11, 1965.
Rev. Flint passed away on May 1, 1966.
Rev. H. I. Butler was called and accepted as pastor.
On November 3, 1969, Rev. Jesse E. Bowen, Sr. was called and he accepted. In 1969, the
Missionary Society organized into four (4) circles and the Layman League was organized.
During the next several years, two rooms were added to the parsonage, and a lot next to the
church was purchased. Also new pulpit furniture, an organ and a PA system was added.
On June 1995 the church honored Rev. Bowen with an appreciation dinner for 28 years of
dedicated service to the Church. Also during the 28th Pastor’s Anniversary, several church
member presented Rev. & Mrs Bowen with a new car for their anniversary. In 1997, the
church voted that Rev. Bowen would be Pastor of Beulah Church for the balance of his life.
In February 1998 Rev,. Bowen passed away with nearly 30 years of pastoring the
membership.
In September 1998, a new roof was put on the church, and in December 1998 the newly
renovated basement was dedicated. Following the death of Rev. Bowen the church was
under the leadership of short term pastors. Pastor Jerome Jordan from 1998 – 1999, Rev.
Grainger Davis from 2000- August 2001, and Pastor Donnie Lee 2002-2006. During the
absence of a pastor, Deacon Al Oliver served as Church Moderator. In July 2007, Reverend
Adrian Jones began serving as pastor of this congregation.
The church razed the parsonage in 2005 and a new parsonage was purchased at 1219 Dr.
James Scott Place.
In April 2007, on National Youth Service Day, members of the community built a Peace Park
on the lot of the former parsonage.
Sunday in July of 1917 at 3:00 p.m., he called together a small group of people and
conducted an open air service on a vacant lot at the corner of 15th and Waller Streets,
where Pleasant Green Baptist Church now stands. Services were held each Sunday for a
month. On the first Sunday in September, they met in a little store front rented from Mrs.
Laura E. Rowe for $8.00 per week. After housing the group, Rev. J.H. Smith asked Rev. G.
W. Hayes to take charge as he had in mind to go to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Advised by Rev. J. H. Smith, the Rev. G. W. Hayes began to organize an Orthodox Baptist
Church.
Rev. G.W. Hayes, seeing that Rev. J.H. Smith was still in town, asked him to conduct revival
services for him, the first week in October. Instead of conducting the meeting himself, Rev. J.
H. Smith secured the services of Rev. J.B. Burns. Many were added to the membership
during this revival.
Upon the suggestion of Rev. J. H. Smith, a council of Preachers and Deacons met on the
fourth Sunday in October at 3:00 p.m., and accepted this group as a regular Baptist
Church. There were 22 people in the organization of the church of which only one, Mrs.
Pearl Owens still resides in Portsmouth.
A committee was appointed to decide on a name for the congregation. The committee
consisted of Mrs, Mary Owens, Rev. H Garner and Mrs. Mollie Davis. Acting on the
suggestion of Mrs. Owens, the committee brought in the name, Beulah Baptist. The church
agreed, and thus Mrs. Mary Owens was credited for the name of the church.
In 1918, the call was extended to Rev. J. B. Burns who resigned after serving one year. On
the first Sunday in January, 1919, Rev. J. H. Smith accepted the call to serve with the
understanding that he would serve for three months. In three months his work was so
successful that at the regular meeting in March 1919, the Church called Rev. Smith to serve
as the church pastor and Rev. Jessie Smith was made Assistant Pastor to his father.
On September 19,1919 a three room cottage located at 1226-14th Street was selected and
eventually converted into a room large enough for worship. In August, 1920 the first Choir
was organized.
In 1925 the parsonage and sanctuary was built on their present lots. They were dedicated
for service the fourth Sunday in March, 1929.
August 19, 1946, the Church debts were located and on October 27, 1946 the mortgage
was burned. During the 29th Church Anniversary it was voted the Rev. J.H. Smith would be
the pastor for the balance of his life. He was at that time the only minister in the State of Ohio
to organize, buy, build and payoff the debt of a church.
On April 15, 1956 the Church called Rev. Charles Smith to become the Pastor. During that
time a choir stand was added and the interior of the church was redecorated along with
adding a new piano and new doors.
Rev. E. R. Flint was called to serve as pastor but did not accept the call until June 11, 1965.
Rev. Flint passed away on May 1, 1966.
Rev. H. I. Butler was called and accepted as pastor.
On November 3, 1969, Rev. Jesse E. Bowen, Sr. was called and he accepted. In 1969, the
Missionary Society organized into four (4) circles and the Layman League was organized.
During the next several years, two rooms were added to the parsonage, and a lot next to the
church was purchased. Also new pulpit furniture, an organ and a PA system was added.
On June 1995 the church honored Rev. Bowen with an appreciation dinner for 28 years of
dedicated service to the Church. Also during the 28th Pastor’s Anniversary, several church
member presented Rev. & Mrs Bowen with a new car for their anniversary. In 1997, the
church voted that Rev. Bowen would be Pastor of Beulah Church for the balance of his life.
In February 1998 Rev,. Bowen passed away with nearly 30 years of pastoring the
membership.
In September 1998, a new roof was put on the church, and in December 1998 the newly
renovated basement was dedicated. Following the death of Rev. Bowen the church was
under the leadership of short term pastors. Pastor Jerome Jordan from 1998 – 1999, Rev.
Grainger Davis from 2000- August 2001, and Pastor Donnie Lee 2002-2006. During the
absence of a pastor, Deacon Al Oliver served as Church Moderator. In July 2007, Reverend
Adrian Jones began serving as pastor of this congregation.
The church razed the parsonage in 2005 and a new parsonage was purchased at 1219 Dr.
James Scott Place.
In April 2007, on National Youth Service Day, members of the community built a Peace Park
on the lot of the former parsonage.
