The church that was the marvel of the City of Birmingham was Shiloh Baptist Church under Rev. T. W. Walker. This church was organized May 3, 1891 as a result of preaching supported by a society known as the “Christian Relief Association.” The original structure was one story. Later, the spirit filled young church built on Nineteenth Street and Avenue G. It was a striking structure with a capacity of 3000. At that time, it was the largest congregation in the city. Often when the house was filled to capacity, a good part of the streets were filled with persons who were anxious to approach near enough to hear. Of course the Pastor was the source and center of this successful church. He was fortunate in drawing about him some very business-like people; J. W. Sampson and J. M. Ross.
On September 19, 1902, Shiloh was headquarters for the 22nd Annual National Baptist Convention of Negro Baptist Preachers. The keynote speaker was Booker T. Washington. He had just finished his address when a choir loft cry of “fight” was misinterpreted as “fire” erupted into a stampede in which 120 persons died.
After Rev. Walker left the church, Rev. Albert Garner (1918 — 1935) became the Pastor of the congregation. The church’s site was rezoned for business. It was sold and the church located on Fourteenth Street and Avenue G. Two temporary structures, one for storage and one for worship were constructed. The basement of the brick structure was ready for worship in 1927.
Rev. Walter Wilson (1936— February 1949) our third Pastor, liquidated the church indebtedness and planned for the upper level construction. The depression and other factors caused the name of the church to become Greater Shiloh.
Rev. Allen Thomas (July 1949 — 1988), our fourth Pastor, was a dynamic productive leader who proved that God specializes in things that seem impossible. The upper level of the church was competed with Opening and Dedicatory Services held October 22 — 29, 1961 and Cornerstone Laying November 26, 1961. Spiritual, financial and numerical growth continued. The church was forced to move to fourth location at 1616 — 18th Place Southwest, as a result of the Medical Center expansion. Dedicatory and Opening services were May 4, 1969.
The church continued to prosper under the leadership of Rev. Allen Thomas until his health began to fail. At that time (1985) God inspired the church to call Rev. Michael W. Wesley, Sr. as Assistant Pastor. He served faithfully in this capacity until the retirement of Rev. Thomas (1900). The spirit moved in on the hearts of the officers and members to continue leadership of the young dynamic, spirit-filled, multi-talented servant.
Under the leadership of Rev. Wesley (1988 – ), who in 2006 became Dr. Wesley having earned a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Louisiana Baptist University and Theological Seminary, the church has continued to grow. The hallmark of his leadership has been vision and strategic focus.
