Hanley Road Baptist Church History

The vision of Hanley Road Baptist Church (HRC) was launched in November of 1930 when the St. Louis Baptist Mission Board purchased property at the southwest corner of Hanley Road and Maryland Avenue in the St. Louis suburb of Clayton.  The first mission service was then held for HRC on February 31^st, 1931 by the Church’s first pastor, E.S. Ewing.  On the following Sunday morning, worship, Sunday School, and Training Union were started.  Thus began the foundation that would become modern-day Hanley Road Baptist Church. 

The congregation officially organized on September 24^th, 1931 with 14 charter members.  In the years following World War II, the church purchased the lot on which the current church building now stands at the northwest corner of Hanley Road and Maryland Ave.  On that lot was a colonial-style mansion which was used for meeting space.  A new church building was erected in 1950 at a cost of $150,000, and serves still today as the focal point of HRC worship service, weddings, and baptisms. 

Easter morning of 1957 brought tragedy, as a fire swept through the mansion then located on church grounds.  However, that misfortune led to joy, as a new educational building soon broke ground on the plot where the old mansion was located.  Today the education building accommodates a nursery, library, fellowship hall, and several offices and classrooms used to advance the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.  

Our congregation is presently led by M. Slade Johnson, who was called to service at HRC in October 1987.  Under Pastor Johnson’s leadership several satellite churches have been fostered.  A Spanish Congregation, initiated under the tutelage of Pastor Paul Garcia, has grown and still thrives today.  Church of the Redeemer, an Ethiopian Congregation, started here and now meets at their own facility. The Journey, a ministry focused on young-adult Christians, was developed in 2003 and continues to flourish as it is now one of the largest congregations in the Saint Louis Area with four locations.  And a Chinese Christian group presently congregates at HRC and continues to spread the Gospel.   Pastor Johnson continues to lead our people as a people of faith committed to sound Biblical teaching and the glorification of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

We welcome you to worship with Hanley Road Baptist Church!