1914: Schism in Pilgrim Baptist; 200 members left and formed Memorial Baptist Church.
1914: Purchased Central Swedish Baptist Church [no location given]
1925: Memorial Baptist Church dissolved
1926: Christian Center organized; building erected at 603 W. Central Ave.
1936: Building gutted by fire and never rebuilt.
Clergy: Rev. Joseph Walter Harris, founder
A schism in Pilgrim Baptist Church prompted 175 members to form Memorial Baptist Church in April 1914 under Reverend E. H. McDonald. The congregation purchased the former Central Swedish Baptist Church’s building at Rice Street and Fuller Avenue. Under Reverend J. W. Harris, membership grew to 200 until his dream for a Christian Center prompted the church to disband in 1925. On February 7, 1926, the Christian Center was established under Reverend Harris at 603 West Central Avenue. The $40,000 structure was completed in 1927 and included a library, gymnasium, assembly hall, dining hall, and reading rooms. It was destroyed in a fire ten years later.
See Christian Center page: https://housesofworship.umn.edu/node/527
See Pilgrim Baptist Church: https://housesofworship.umn.edu/node/444