Salt Lake county

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Burlington, Gilead & Rio Grande Baptist Church History

below are links to "transcriptions of documents removed from the cornerstone time capsule of Gilead Baptist Church, 614 S Concord Street, Salt Lake City, UT.  The church building was sold to the Boys and Girls Club a few years ago.  Last Fall {2000} the building was demolished to make way for a new building."  Contributed in 2001 by John Hewes (jahrn@home.com)

History of Burlington Baptist Church

(Written Circa 1950)

"On the first of January 1891, Brother Bothum started a Sunday School in the school house in the Burlington Addition, under favorable prospects.  About April 1, Brother George W. Ward took charge of it as superintendent, and under his leadership it has grown and prospered until from a school of twenty it now has an enrollment of 75 with an average attendance of 60.  The school is doing a good work.

"Early in the year it was quite manifest that the Baptists should branch out.  Other denominations were forging ahead of us.  Starting missions in all parts of the city.  It was evident that this was a good point to start a mission chapel.  Rev. S. G. Adams made several visits among the people there, all of whom expressed themselves as anxious to have us start a chapel and offered to help all they could with money and work.

"Mr. E. B. Wicks, as agent of the Burlington Syndicate agreed to give $500.00 provided we would build inside of six months.

"At a meeting of the church held July 15, 1891, it was voted to build, and the matter was placed in the hands of the Missionary Committee and Brother Adams.  We bought two lots from the Burlington Syndicate for $525.00 to be paid in ten annual payments.  The committee then went to work and canvassed the ground thoroughly, getting from some, money, from others donations of brick and stone; Some agreed to do so many days of carpentering, bricklaying, mason work, plastering, etc.  That encouraged us very much in our work.

"The foundation was started, the work was kept up as best we could.  Often several of our members would give of their spare time or whenever they could come to work.

"Today (March 7, 1892) over 800 met and dedicated a chapel of which we have cause to feel proud.  Today the following program was carried out.  The Male Quartet under Mr. Peabody gave us fine music.  Rev. Houck read from the Scripture.  Rev. H. B. Steelman gave the opening prayer.  Rev. S. G. Adams preached the dedication sermon after which Rev. Steelman made a statement showing that the actual cost of the chapel had been $1,610.00 of this amount, $600, had been cash, $645.00 labor and material donated and leaving a balance due of $365.00

"$100.00 was raised at this meeting and Brother Steelman said he would guarantee to raise the balance, enabling the chapel to start free of debt.

"Rev. Steelman made the closing prayer, dedicating the chapel to God as His House.  For the present there will be Sunday School at 3:30 P.M.  and preaching at 7:30 P.M."

A Brief History of Rio Grande Baptist Church

(Written Circa 1950)

In October of 1891, a Sunday School was started on the west side of Salt Lake City with an enrollment of 23 under the leadership of W. C. Orem as Superintendent.  This Mission was known as the Rio Grande Mission, it was started in a home on the north east corner of First South and Eighth West streets, to this day August 25, 1950 the house is still standing.

In 1894 a family in the eastern part of the United States gave some money to the Home Mission Society to be used to build a church out in the west as a Memorial to their daughter who had passed away, it was with this money that the Rio Grande Chapel was erected.  On April 22, 1894 the corner stone was laid with fitting ceremonies.  On September 27, 1896 the "M. Ella Preston Memorial Chapel" (Rio Grande Chapel) was dedicated, the chapel had cost $3,500.00.

The year 1908 the American Baptist Home Mission Society said it was possible for them to place a worker in the Rio Grande and Burlington Mission Fields, up until that time all of the leadership for the fields were lay workers from the First Church later the Immanuel Baptist Church.  Early in the year 1909 Rev. W. W. Des Autels arrived to take over the work in the two mission fields.

In October 1910 Rev. B. F. Bronson arrived to take over the two mission fields, it was through his efforts that on April 7, 1911 Rio Grande Mission was made a branch Church of the Immanuel Baptist Church.

Rio Grande first started as a mission Sunday School later a mission church.  Then as a branch church of Immanuel.  On March 25, 1912 it was organized as a independent church.

From the time Rio Grande became a independent church until it united with Burlington to form the Gilead Baptist church it was dependent on the Home Mission Society for aid in supporting a Pastor, even though it never became a self supporting church, the number of souls won to the Lord and the countless number who were influenced by the church, can never be measured.  It was great Light-house for the Lord Jesus Christ on the west side of Salt Lake City, and greater work for the Lord will be done in uniting these two Mission Churchs into one great Church, The Gilead Baptist Church.

History of Gilead Baptist Church

From August 24, 1949 to August 25, 1950

Magazine Article from The American Baptist magazine

(date not visible, circa 1949)

Gilead Baptist Church Incorporated
New Building Planned

The Rio Grande and Burlington Baptist Churches of Salt Lake City were legally united to form the Gilead Baptist Church on August 21.  Rev. Kenneth E. Pederson is pastor.  On Sunday, August 28, a special service was held in honor of the newly organized church.  Miss Constance Munson, State Missionary, who six years ago came to Salt Lake City to serve the two united churches, brought a brief message entitled "The Message of a Song." Mr. Bert Hewes, a member of the church, sang "There is a Balm in Gilead." Rev. Elmer C. Adams, Executive Secretary, brought the morning message, "What's in a Name?" the prayer of rededication was led by the pastor in concluding the service.  During the morning the pastor introduced Mr. Walter Orem, who more than fifty years ago, had helped to organize the Bible School at the Rio Grande church.  Mr. Orem spoke briefly of the early days and the experiences which led to the laying of the cornerstone of the Rio Grande Church.

The Gilead Baptist Church has purchased a new building site at the corner of Pacific and Concord Streets, and are preparing to start erection of a new building this fall.  The new masonry church will be built of a simple contemporary exterior design with natural wood beams exposed in the interior.  The sanctuary can be enlarged to accommodate over 200 people.  There will be an educational plant with six departmental classrooms, a pastor's study, chair room and kitchen.  The building will have a small utility basement to house the heating and water systems.  Mr. M. E. Harris, Jr., architect has prepared the drawings and blueprints for the new structure.  It is estimated that the cost will be between $30,000 and $40,000.

Newspaper Article from The Salt Lake Telegram

Saturday Evening, Nov. 26, 1949

Pastor, Flock Only Builders of Baptists' New Church
By Stan Bowman

If you should stop to "side-walk superintend" a building project on the west side, one of the workers might be introduced to you as "Rev. Pederson"

In fact, all of the workers on the project except one full-time carpenter are members of the Gilead Baptist Church.

When members of the church decided to build a chapel at Concord St.  (1255 West St.) And Pacific ave.  (440 South St.) they agreed to donate as much of their time and labor as possible.

Construction Started
Now, with construction started, the members and pastor, Rev. Kenneth E. Pederson, are doing just that.

They have dug footing and foundation ditches, the west wall foundation is poured and they expect to have the foundation for most of the chapel proper completed this week end.  Rev. Pederson and the church men work several afternoons a week and on week ends.  Technical building experience is contributed by congregation members who are contractors.

The building, a large chapel and a wing for Sunday school work, will be built on modern lines of red lava blocks.  Provisions have been made for the later addition of a gymnasium on the large lot.

Women Not Idle
While the men labor on the actual construction, the women of the church have not been idle.  For example, the women are scheduled to prepare a dinner for the men Saturday.

Also, on Friday the women have scheduled the first of several projects to gather funds for new furniture for the building.  Friday's event will be a bazaar at which "almost everything will be sold."

The architect's estimate on cost of the building was $45,000.  "By doing our own work, we hope to cut this cost considerably.  Also, if we manage to cut the cost, we will be able to have many improvements the church could not ordinarily afford," Rev. Pederson said.

Cornerstone Time Capsule of Gilead Baptist Church

Cornerstone Ceremony Program