A historic Montgomery church endured major fire damage July 8, but it wasn’t the first time for this place of worship to be damaged — nor was it the worst.
Here’s a look back on the history of Clay Street Missionary Baptist Church:
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- When the church first opened in 1912, it wasn’t on Clay Street. Under the Rev. O.W. Walker, the original location was Bell Street.
- That same year, the church moved to its permanent location at 830 Clay St.
- The church’s first deacons were Nathaniel Brown Jr., Willie B. Davis, James Gaston Sr. and Earnest Pinkard.
- In 1945, the church’s original structure was destroyed during a storm.
- Even without its permanent home, the Rev. C.L. Webster arrived to lead the congregation in 1951.
- Under Webster’s leadership, the church was rebuilt on Clay Street in 1956.
- The new building was an example of traditional religious architecture of the mid-20th century, a one-story brick building with a…