We've Come This Far By
Faith
It is quite an amazing story of how we came to be! The truth is that the Baptist denomination was actually the last of the congregations to gain representation in the Germantown community. In the Spring of 1940, God touched the hearts of thirteen Christians instilling in them a desire to carry on the work of the Lord. The founder and lead shepherd at that time was Rev. Collins Nichols Polite, hence the name Polite Temple Baptist Church was birthed. For several months the small group worked diligently to raise funds and on August 2, 1940 an initial property was purchased at 500 E. Rittenhouse Street.
As the church grew and prospered in membership, it had to move to a bigger building. The new location was now 312 E. Rittenhouse Street. Still in need of an even larger more adequate facility, the membership worked even harder and later purchased a property at 210 E. Haines Street. By 1955, a new day dawned for the Polite Temple Baptist Church, when the membership marched joyfully to the First Baptist Church of Germantown located at 38 East Price Street.
For 25 years, Reverend Polite led the church until God called him home from labor to reward in September of 1965. However, God in his infinite wisdom had placed a leader in the midst of the congregation as a deacon and later a licensed preacher. The Rev. Collie Williams pastored the congregation until God called him home from labor to reward on January 20, 1995.
Before going on to glory, the Rev. Collie Williams passed his mantle to the Rev., Dr. Franklin Williamson Jr., who was unanimously voted the new pastor of the flock on November 4, 1991. Under the leadership of Rev., Dr. Franklin Williamson Jr., Polite Temple continued to develop several outreach ministries in order to serve the community at large. To name just a few, we were selected as one of the churches to participate in the faith-based afterschool project initiative with Community in Schools of Philadelphia. We became involved with Partners for Sacred Places as a major link to our building project, P.A.L.N.P. (Project Advancement Leading to the Nehemiah Project), the P.T.B.C. Summer Youth Bible Camp was developed, Tuesday Institute and the church also served on the foreign missions field in Trinidad, West Indies for 4 years.
After 26 years of service, Rev., Dr. Franklin Williamson, Jr. informed the church that he would be retiring from pastoring and moving to Augusta, Georgia. Once again, God in his infinite wisdom had placed a leader in the midst of the congregation. A member since 1986 and a senior associate minister, Rev. Bernadine Waterman. Rev., Dr, Franklin Williamson, Jr. chose to nominate Rev. Waterman to pass the mantle to making church history, as the first female pastor of Polite Temple Baptist Church!
So, here we are 83 years old making history, in an edifice that was built in 1852 and yet still standing, looking forward to seasons filled with new beginnings, new journeys and new experiences and with the help of the Lord we will stand until the day of His return!
As the church grew and prospered in membership, it had to move to a bigger building. The new location was now 312 E. Rittenhouse Street. Still in need of an even larger more adequate facility, the membership worked even harder and later purchased a property at 210 E. Haines Street. By 1955, a new day dawned for the Polite Temple Baptist Church, when the membership marched joyfully to the First Baptist Church of Germantown located at 38 East Price Street.
For 25 years, Reverend Polite led the church until God called him home from labor to reward in September of 1965. However, God in his infinite wisdom had placed a leader in the midst of the congregation as a deacon and later a licensed preacher. The Rev. Collie Williams pastored the congregation until God called him home from labor to reward on January 20, 1995.
Before going on to glory, the Rev. Collie Williams passed his mantle to the Rev., Dr. Franklin Williamson Jr., who was unanimously voted the new pastor of the flock on November 4, 1991. Under the leadership of Rev., Dr. Franklin Williamson Jr., Polite Temple continued to develop several outreach ministries in order to serve the community at large. To name just a few, we were selected as one of the churches to participate in the faith-based afterschool project initiative with Community in Schools of Philadelphia. We became involved with Partners for Sacred Places as a major link to our building project, P.A.L.N.P. (Project Advancement Leading to the Nehemiah Project), the P.T.B.C. Summer Youth Bible Camp was developed, Tuesday Institute and the church also served on the foreign missions field in Trinidad, West Indies for 4 years.
After 26 years of service, Rev., Dr. Franklin Williamson, Jr. informed the church that he would be retiring from pastoring and moving to Augusta, Georgia. Once again, God in his infinite wisdom had placed a leader in the midst of the congregation. A member since 1986 and a senior associate minister, Rev. Bernadine Waterman. Rev., Dr, Franklin Williamson, Jr. chose to nominate Rev. Waterman to pass the mantle to making church history, as the first female pastor of Polite Temple Baptist Church!
So, here we are 83 years old making history, in an edifice that was built in 1852 and yet still standing, looking forward to seasons filled with new beginnings, new journeys and new experiences and with the help of the Lord we will stand until the day of His return!
