05/12/2025
Park Windsor Baptist Church History L.A. CA.
🙏🏾 parkwindsorbc LA.Ca.
Terrell Taylor, Sr. Pastor
Park Windsor Baptist Church
parkwindsorbaptistchurch.com/
🙏🏾 parkwindsorbc LA.Ca.
Terrell Taylor, Sr. Pastor
Park Windsor Baptist Church
parkwindsorbaptistchurch.com/
Continued series "Serving God With Excellence"
Terrell Taylor, Sr. Pastor
Park Windsor Baptist Church
Psalm 137:1-4 NKJV
Dr. Anthony Jones
Park Windsor Baptist Church
Church History
The Park-Windsor Baptist Church of Los Angeles, formerly known as South Park�Baptist Church of Los Angeles was organized in the home of Brother John W. Cusick on December 22, 1910. The Reverend F. D. Finn, of the Baptist City Mission Society, was called to be the interim pastor of the church until a permanent pastor could be obtained. Plans were set in motion to build a church with the help of the Los Angeles Baptist City Mission Society.
Church services were held in the homes of Brother and Sister Cusick, and Brother and Sister Cable. Bibles for the church was purchased for 49 cents each. The church held two services, morning and evening, and a session of Bible school each Sunday. Mid-week fellowship service was held on Thursday evenings. The first auxiliary organized for the work was known as “The Ladies Society”.
On June 4, 1911, the Reverend C. Oscar Johnson was called to pastor South Park Baptist Church of Los Angeles. Under his pastorate, the church’s Article of Incorporation was officially filed and recorded by the California Secretary of State on March 23, 1912. Reverend C. Oscar Johnson resigned in August 1915, to continue his education.
On October 3, 1915, Dr. G. N. Lehigh was called to take over the ministry. He pastured for two-years. On August 19, 1917, Reverend Earle Smith accepted the call to pastor and served until May 11, 1919.
South Park Baptist Church of Los Angeles then called Gordon Palmer, a Chaplain of the 13th United States Infantry to be pastor�on June 15, 1919. In July 1919 ground was broken for the first unit of the South Park Baptist Church on the corner of Fifty-First Street and McKinley Avenue in Los Angeles, California. The land was purchased for the approximately cost of $38,000.00. The church dedication service was held on Sunday March 22, 1920 at 2:30 PM commemorating occupying their new edifice.
Pastor Palmer resigned in May 1928 and Dr. S. Fraser Langford was called. In December 1931, Dr. Langford resigned to answer a call to pastor in Compton, California.
In 1931 South Park Baptist Church was�designated by the American (then Northern)�Baptist Convention as the outstanding church in the area of ministering to the needs of an urban community.
The Reverend H. A. Eaton served as pastor from November 1, 1932 to April 31, 1935 at which time he was called to pastor in Hermosa Beach, California. The Reverend William Wilkens was then called to pastor South Park Baptist Church and pastured from 1938-1951.
In 1944, The South Park Baptist Church divided its membership. The name of the corporation formerly known as South Park Baptist Church of Los Angles became known as Park-Windsor Baptist Church of Los Angeles via an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation filed and recorded by the California Secretary of State on December 20, 1945 effecting the name change.
In 1946 the church relocated to 52nd Street and Crenshaw Blvd. In 1947 Park-Windsor Baptist Church moved to it current location; 1842 West 108th Street and Manhattan.
1947-1951????�Unable to locate church history�during this period.
Reverend Kenneth Ross served as pastor from 1952-1953. In 1953 the church called Reverend Roy A. Watson as pastor. Rev. Watson ministered for four (4) years, 1953 -1957. In 1957, due to ill health, Reverend Watson resigned. Reverend Robert Burchell succeeded him and served as Pastor until 1960. In 1960 the church extended a call to Reverend Norman R. Dalton who pastured for the next three (3) years.
During the sixties, the southwest area of Los Angeles was becoming integrated.�However, the church membership remained predominantly White. In 1964, Reverend Donald C. Bushfield visited the homes of Black families and extended an invitation to worship at Park Windsor Baptist Church.
The following Black members are considered the “Black Pioneers” of Park Windsor Baptist Church, and joined the church under Reverend Bushfield; 1964-1965: Sister Betty Abrams, Mother Edna Jones, Brother Gary and Sister Ida Jean Smith, Mother Dorothy Whaley, Brother Charles and Sister Naomi Fisher, Sister Ozella Adams-Singleton and Sis, Jane Ella Spirlin. Sis. Elaine Whaley joined the “pioneers” and was baptized April 28, 1968.
Brother Gary Smith became the first Black member to serve on the Board of Trustees in 1966 and served as its Secretary from 1966 through February 1969.
Sis. Ida Jean Smith, another first, was elected Church Clerk in January 1966 and served in this capacity well into the 1980s.
During 1966-1967: Sis. Earnestine Durden became a member along with Bro. Maurice and Sis. Lizzie Ballenger and their daughter Regina Ballenger, Sis. Rosa Lee Jones, Bro. Scott Ellis, Bro. James H. and Sis. Freddie Mae Smith, with their daughters Hettie and Willita Smith, Bro. Hargette and Sis. Jeanne Ellis, Sis. Edith Willis and her daughter Brenda, Sis. Katie Hooks and Sis. Hattie Hart.
Dr. Elmer Gottschalk was called by Park Windsor in 1967. It was during his pastorate that the church experienced a fire on December 31, 1967. The fire started in the old trustee room and spread to the sanctuary. Members of the church took turns guarding the building because there was no way to secure it.
Dr. Donald Robertson came to Park Windsor in 1968. Under his pastorate�the church was refurbished and re-dedicated. Four Black members at this time were appointed as trustees: Sister Ozella Adams, Brother Scott Ellis, Brother Maurice Ballenger and Bro. James Smith who became chairman of the board.
Also, in 1969 the church elected two more Black members; Brother Sesser Durden and Brother Clarence Randolph to the Board of Trustees. Bro. Randolph became the secretary of the board.
Corporation Grant Deed executed on April 28, 1969 by the Los Angles Baptist City Mission Society and recorded in the official records of Los Angeles County on December 2, 1969, returning the property back to Park-Windsor Baptist Church of Los Angeles property currently occupied and
located at 1842 West 108th Street, Los Angeles, California, at which time it was�voted that the church would remain an American Baptist Church.�During 1964 the property was valued at $86,000.00.
During 1969 Charles H. Fisher became the first Black Chairman of the Deacon Board.
Dr. J. Raymond Henderson was the first Black minister called to pastor Park Windsor Baptist Church in October 1970.�Dr. Henderson ministered for one-year.
Reverend Arthur H. Windsor served as pastor from 1972 until his resignation in 1974. The church then called Reverend Joseph B. Patterson. Following Reverend Patterson in 1977, Dr. J. Raymond Henderson was again called as interim pastor.
In 1977, Reverend Manuel L. Scott, Jr. assumed the pastoral leadership of Park Windsor Baptist Church. During the five (5) years of his pastorate, tithing was instituted and saw the weekly income of the church increase 100%; the building fund budget was instituted and saw the membership increased substantially. Reverend Scott also instituted the 8:00 AM service and 6:00 PM Communion service.
Under the Pastorate of Rev. Scott, Jr., the Charles H. Fisher Scholarship program was�revived under the “Christian Youth Council”. The first Children’s Choir was formed, and a members “spiritual life” and “Youth Rap” Sessions were established.
Rev. Scott engaged the church in fellowship�with sister churches in Oakland, California�and Phoenix, Arizona and locally.
Rev. Scott resigned in 1982 to share his gift of evangelism with others.
Park-Windsor Baptist Church was under the pastoral guidance of Dr. William Thurmond from 1983 to 1990 at which time he served as Interim Pastor. During 1990, Dr.�Thurmond was installed as the official pastor.
Under the Pastorate of Dr. Thurmond and coordinated by Brother James Patterson, remodeling of the church edifice commenced in 1985 with the architectural designs and construction completed in 1986; that saw the sanctuary enhancements, additional classrooms added, the dome erected, the atrium area showcased and other amendies. Total of all cost including architectural was $554,608.34.
Under the leadership of Dr. Thurmond, Park Windsor continued to grow, spiritually and physically. Weekly Bible Study for both youth and adults was instituted. Dr. Thurmond named a Social Action Committee to address community and social issues. Dr. Thurmond instituted “High Noon” prayer services, under the leadership of Rev. Bobby A. Jackson and a radio ministry was put in place.
Dr. Thurmond restructured the Deacon and Trustee Ministry and introduced an aggressive four year Stewardship program and a new member’s class designed to prepare new members for integration into the church.
The Scholarship committee was expanded and an annual planning sessions for all auxiliary heads was organized to develop the church calendar.
Pastor Thurmond visioned a new building that would include a day care center and eventually a school for youngsters, a CARE �Ministry, a monthly church newspaper, the development of an employment and housing bank, and an intensified Prayer Ministry.
Under the Pastorate of Dr. Thurmond,�Park Windsor is about the business of building on the rock with many auxiliaries organized in which members can become involved. There was a Men’s Fellowship, a Women’s Missionary Society, a focused Sunday School Department, a New Members Institute, a Young Adult Group, a Board of Christian Education, a Radio Ministry, a Nurses Guild, a Nursery Staff, a Wedding Committee, New Members Counselors, a Boys Club, a Media Ministry, a Singles Ministry, “HYPE”(Helping Youth Prepare Eternally), annual Men’s and Women’s Conferences, Praise Team Ministry, new sound room, Children Church, Man-to-Man Ministry, Salt Ministry, as well as five choirs: The Schekinah Choir, The New Voices of Park Windsor, The Little Voices of Park Windsor and The Joy (Jesus Obsessed Youth) Choir.
In 1992 a three bedroom home, adjacent to the church property was purchased and remodeled. The parking lot was enclosed with wrought iron fencing thus providing security.
The parking lot was enhanced that earlier had been designated “parking and recreation”, where in 1978 the designation�of “recreation” enabling the church parking area to qualify for the religious property tax reduction.
In 2003 the church purchased an 18 passenger bus with a hydraulic lifts for wheel chairs and in 2006 purchased a replacement 15 passenger van in support of the Deacons and Youth Ministries.
After many years, in 2009 Dr. Thurmond finally saw the successful completion and filing of the church’s Restated Articles of�Incorporation and the membership adaptation and approval of the Church’s�By-Laws.
Dr. Thurmond officially retired as pastor of Park-Windsor Baptist Church on December 31, 2009; nevertheless, he agreed to continue as Interim Pastor through March 31, 2010 until the Pastoral Search Committee�presented to the church a candidate to be considered for Pastor.
In the meantime, the Deacon Ministry recommended Rev. Kenneth Gates to serve as Interim Pastor, with the membership approval, from March through June 2010.
Rev. Gates also served as Youth Minister where he engaged the youths in many�activities both in and outside the church walls. Our parking/recreation area was enhanced with permanent basketball goals.
The people of God who meet on this corner have come a mighty long way since December 22, 1910, the community has changed, the complexion of the membership has changed, but the vision of God has not changed.
We have not come this far because we are better than others, nor because of sophisticated management or well planned programs. We have come this far because God chose to dwell among us, and therefore, we give God the glory.
Over the years, God has abundantly blessed this “little church on the corner”. We have not come this far because of superiority management nor systematic planning. WE HAVE COME THIS FAR BY FAITH, LEANING ON THE LORD. He alone, who “doeth great wonders have kept us and are deserving of the praise.”
After much prayer by the membership, in June, 2010 the Reverend Terrell Taylor was called as Pastor. Under the leadership of our�newly elected and divinely inspired Pastor, we look forward with great enthusiasm to�what God has in store for “The Park” as we ‘take it to the next level’. We give God all the glory for the things He has done, is doing and will do in the life of Park Windsor Baptist Church.
Under Pastor Taylor, Wednesday night adult and youth Bible Study have seen an increase of over 300 percent.
THE ROLL OF PASTORS, PASS AND PRESENT:
Rev. F. Finn 1910-1911�Rev. C. O. Johnson 1911-1915�Rev. G. H. Lehigh 1915-1917�Rev. Earle Smith 1917-1919�Rev. Gordon Palmer 1919-1928�Rev. S. Fraser Langford 1928-1931�Rev. E. A. Eaton 1932-1935�Unable to determine pastor(s):�1936-1937??�Rev. William Wilkins 1938-1951�Rev. Kenneth R. Ross 1952-1953�Rev. Roy Watson 1953-1957�Rev. Robert Burchell 1957-1960�Rev. Norman R. Dalton 1960-1963�Rev. Donald Bushfield 1964-1965�Rev. E. L. Pearson (Interim) 1966-1967�Rev. Elmer Gottschalk 1967-1968 �Rev. Donald Robertson 1968-1969�Rev. J. Raymond Henderson 1970-1971�(First African-American�Pastor of PWBC)�Rev. Authur H. Windsor 1972-1974�Rev. Joseph Patterson 1974-1976�Dr. J. Raymond Henderson 1977�(Interim Pastor�Rev. Manuel L. Scott, Jr. 1977-1982�Dr. William Thurmond 1983-1990�(Interim Pastor)�Dr. William Thurmond 1990-2010
Rev. Kenneth Gates 2010-2010�(Interim Pastor)�Rev. Terrell Taylor 2010-
Additional pertinent church information:
• HENDERSON HALL – named and dedicated in honor of The Reverend Doctor J. Raymond Henderson, the first African-American Pastor of Park-Windsor Baptist Church
• LEGBANDT HALL – named and dedicated in honor of Sister Patricia “Pat” Legbandt who continued to faithfully serve her church and community in light of the mass exodus and did not compromise her Christian love for her fellow man based on the color of their skin.
Compiled by Carlie Harris, Sr. and Ida Jean Smith�after extensive internal and external research�August, 2011
UPCOMING EVENTS
Nov
23
Sun
8:00 am Sunday Morning Worship Service @ Online Livestream
Sunday Morning Worship Service @ Online Livestream
Nov 23 @ 8:00 am – 9:30 am
Nov
26
Wed
1:00 pm Bible Study (High Noon) @ Bible Study (High Noon)
Bible Study (High Noon) @ Bible Study (High Noon)
Nov 26 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
7:00 pm Bible Study (Evening) @ Online Livestream
Bible Study (Evening) @ Online Livestream
Nov 26 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
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THIS WEEK’S INSPIRATIONAL SCRIPTURE
Worship Experience
Park Windsor Baptist Church�Worship Experience
You are welcome to join us every Sundays at 8am and 11am for Worship and on Wednesdays at High Noon and 7pm for Bible Study with Pastor Terrell Taylor and Staff for a great Worship Experience with God.
You can also watch the 8am Service and 7pm Bible Study Livestream on our page or YouTube channel.
Regular Schedule
Worship Services are held every Sunday at 8:00am and 11:00am
Bible Study is held every Wednesday :
12:00pm High Noon Bible Study (In Person Only)
7:00pm Adult (In Person and Online )
Communion is held every 1st Sunday at 8:00am and 11:00am
Baptism and The Right Hand of Fellowship are scheduled quarterly at a Sunday Morning Service at 8am
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