UBC History
Adapted from the 75th Anniversary Celebration booklet, produced in 1996
University Baptist History 75th Anniversary Edition Fall 1996
Cover: Donna Atchley; Composition & Copy: Terri Swanson
Editing & Proofing: Rick McClatchy, Marguerite Guinn
75th Anniversary Committee:
Bill Malone
Janell Cullison
David Breedlove
Rick McClatchy
Don Sandley
History of Univeristy Baptist Church
William E. Malone, Bonnie Williamson,
Lyndell P. Worthen, Jr.,
& Rick McClatchy
1921 – 1945
“In future years preachers and missionaries will go out from old North Church,” said J. R. Eliff, preaching at the organizational meeting of North Church (later known as University Baptist Church) in June 1921. Thus began the vision of University Baptist Church. It was a need for a new fellowship 
of believers that brought North Church to life. A number of families living on the northern edge of Shawnee found participation in a downtown church difficult because of transportation. The streetcar which ran from town to OBU was inconvenient and expensive.Under the leadership of Reverend J. L. Guthrie, Reverend J. E. Akin, and Reverend William Whicker, these people met in June of 1921, at the home of J. L.Guthrie at 310 W. North Street (later MacArthur Drive) to organize into a church. They gathered without the sponsorship of another Baptist church and with the resistance of some who did not want another Baptist church in Shawnee.
Approximately twenty persons signed the church charter. Some of the charter members were: Dr. and Mrs. J. L. Guthrie, Mattie Guthrie, Ruth Guthrie, Mr. and Mrs. William Whicker, Pauline Whicker, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Ellis, Mary Ellis, Mr.and Mrs. J. E. Akin, Ruth Akin, and Mrs. J. W. Atteberry. A number of others, including Mrs. Velma Clotfelter who now lives in Carlsbad, New Mexico, were present at the meeting, but they waited to write for their church letters. Reverend J. E. Akin served as moderator of this first meeting, and Dr. J. L.Guthrie was elected pastor.
Through the summer and into the fall the Guthrie home continued to serve as the meeting place of the newly organized church. This part of the town, had no electricity; 
therefore, the church used an old gas lantern to light their services. According to Rita Collier Hedges of Lyford, Texas, “A revival was held in 1921 by Brother William Whicker at Acme School, two miles west of OBU. Converts from the revival were baptized in a pond on the L. M. Collier farm one mile north and 1.5 miles west of OBU. Among those baptized were the three Collier girls, Rita, Novella, and Marie, and their mother Pearl Collier. Mr. Collier was already a Baptist.”
In the fall of 1921, the church, using volunteer labor, built a crude tabernacle at 2613 North Kickapoo. This structure had a dirt and sawdust floor, homemade benches, and a pot-bellied stove. The hinged, wooden flaps used for windows reached to the floor. They could be pushed out and propped up, enabling one to walk out the windows. Ewell Montgomery recalls that he could stand on the ground beside the building and lay his hand on the roof.
Velma Clotfelter relates, “As I remember the early days of North Church, I recall how people with different talents and abilities came into the fellowship and were eager to find a place to serve. At first there was no pianist or music director. Two girls from OBU, who were close friends, united with the church. One could play the piano and the other had some ability to direct music. They served that first semester and maybe longer. Others came who were capable Sunday School teachers. A close bond of Christian fellowship grew among these early members.”
Rita Collier Hedges recalls, “During my high school days, I taught primary Sunday School. Also I was active in BYPU. The pastor, Dr. Guthrie, tutored me in violin for church services. My sister Novella played the piano. Our little orchestra didn’t p!ay too long, because Dr. Guthrie ended his pastorate in 1926. Later we formed a choir and sat on two wooden benches behind the pulpit. The church grew in number, and we had another baptizing.”
Dr. Guthrie was succeeded in 1926 by the second pastor, Olen Cornelius, a student at OBU. He served the church until December 4, 1927. The third pastor, C. H. Evans served only from February until July 1928.
A. F. Loftin became the fourth pastor in August 1928. While the various pastors were coming and going, the main work of the church moved ahead.
On August 22, 1928, the church voted to begin building construction by August 27th; however, it was in September 1928, that construction began on the three story brick building which presently is the north education wing. (The third story was removed during the 1976 renovation.) The intention was to build an attached sanctuary to the north.
The church held services for some weeks in the auditorium of Shawnee Hall at OBU, since the old Tabernacle had been torn down and the materials used for construction of the new facility.
Loftin resigned as pastor October 12, 1930, and was followed February 22, 1931, by the fifth pastor, O. E. Thompson. From its inception the church had borne the name North Church and had incorporated with the State of Oklahoma under that name on March 7, 1928. The church’s name, North Church, created a considerable amount of confusion as to whether affiliation had been made with the Northern or Southern Baptist Convention. On March 4, 1931, the name was changed to University Baptist Church. To complete the new name change, the church incorporated for the second time on April 11,1940.
Thompson resigned as pastor on March 26, 1933, to move to Cordell, Oklahoma, as owner and president of Cordell College.
The sixth pastor, W. O. Miller, was called in July 1933. During Miller’s pastorate, the church dealt with the potentially divisive issue of receiving divorced persons into church membership. The church decided to receive these persons into full membership. Miller resigned as pastor in July 1937.
Leon Gambrell became the seventh pastor September 1, 1937, and under his leadership the church engaged in its third building program.
In place of a proposed $50,000 brick sanctuary, in 1939 the church erected a 
temporary wooden Tabernacle, using volunteer labor. The concrete of our patio area was the floor of the white wooden tabernacle which extended to the east edge of our fellowship hall. Originally it was to be the basement floor of the proposed sanctuary.
The church, on August 9, 1938, purchased a lot at Falls Creek Baptist Assembly for future construction of a Falls Ceek cabin.
W. A. Boston was unanimously called as the eighth pastor in July 1941. During Brother Boston’s tenure the church established a rotating system of deacons.
Dr. Clifton Malone was called as the ninth pastor on October 15 1943. In March 1945, the Musson Baptist Mission, was organized under the sponsorship of University Baptist. Herbert Lee was director of this mission. On December 1, 1946, the mission was organized into the Musson Missionary Baptist Church, later renamed Hilltop Baptist Church. Dr. Malone resigned on August 7, 1945, to become chairman of the English Department at OBU.
| 1921 – 1945 | 1945 – 1977 | 1977 – 1996 |
