CHURCH HISTORY

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church was the dream of the late Rev. Jesse A. Bunn. The church was named after his wife’s (Viola T. Bunn) childhood church, Pleasant Grove, in Princeton, VA. Service was held in his house until April 14, 1952, when we leased a building at 320 Gates Avenue. The building collapsed and was condemned before we could move in. In September of that year, Rev. Saunders, Pastor of New Castle Baptist Church, opened his doors and allowed us to serve on Sunday afternoons at 3:30 pm.

In March 1953, Pleasant Grove moved into our first building at 134 Sumpter Street. In 1957, Pleasant Grove moved to 629 Herkimer Street, and then in 1970, we moved to 1927 Fulton Street, where we are presently located.

HISTORY OF THE

CHURCH BUILDING

• In 1919, the structure that now stands at 1927 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY, was known as the “Normandy Theater.”

• In 1933, the building was renamed the “Howard Theater.”

• In 1949, the building was sold to Melrah Holding Corp. and was owned by Hany Brook.

• In 1952, the building reopened as the Carver Theater.

• In 1958, the building was purchased by Mount Hope United Church of America Inc. and became a house of worship.

• In 1970, under the leadership of Rev. R. Eugene Burley, the building was purchased by Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. It remains a house of worship under the leadership of Albert L. Jamison, Sr. The church is commonly The “Tabernacle” or “PG” by its members. 

CHURCH MISSION

Pleasant Grove Tabernacle exists to encourage and mature meaningful relationships among the Pastor, Officers, and members, equipping and enabling them to be more effective in their callings as we develop our relationship with God. We are also here to serve the community through our various outreach programs and minister to the needs of the total man (natural and spiritual).