History

The Pastorate of Dr. A.U. Boone
1898-1930

Dr. A.U. Boone

Dr. A.U. Boone was called as pastor in 1898, beginning the longest pastorate in the church's history, and what would be the first of only five pastorates that would see the church through the 20th century. Under Dr. Boone's leadership, the church helped found the Shelby County Baptist Association in 1903 and built its new facilities at Linden Avenue and Lauderdale Street, which were dedicated in November 1907. The dedicatory address was delivered by Dr. E.Y. Mullins, then president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Dr. Boone served as the president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention from 1903-1909, the longest consecutive presidency in the 20th century. The church, which had long ministered to those who gathered within its walls, extended its reach in 1924 when it began to broadcast its Bible class lecture over the relatively new medium of radio, becoming one of the earliest churches in the nation to own its own radio station, WGBC (World's Greatest Bible Class) [The church continues to broadcast its services over the sixth successor to WGBC, and it is believed to be one of the longest-running church broadcasts in the nation.] Also in 1924, the church added to its existing facilities with the construction of a Sunday school building. In 1925, the city played host to the Southern Baptist Convention, and Dr. Boone was one of the denominational leaders responsible for the establishment of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program that year. Dr. Boone's pastorate ended with his retirement in 1930. Prior to his death in 1954, Dr. Boone wrote and published extensively, and served in interim pastorates and as chaplain for Baptist Memorial Hospital, a fitting position since he was one of the leaders in its founding in 1908.

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