Our History

In the 1800's, a white Baptist Missionary named Henry Martin Tupper journeyed to Raleigh, North Carolina from the North. His purpose was to minister to the people of the south. With God as his guide and the support of northern backers, Mr. Tupper established what is now called Shaw University in 1877. He believed that education should be rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Although students studied a wide variety of subjects, Mr. Tupper's main focus was to train ministers for the gospel. As young men graduated, they were stationed in newly formed churches in the Raleigh area. Malaby's Crossroads is proud to have been one of those early churches.

 

The original meeting site was located just east of Raleigh, in Eastern Wake County, near the vicinity of the Neuse River. Meetings were held in a frame house near the river. This meeting place eventually became known as The Crabtree Baptist Church. After a year of earnest labor Rev. Harmon Pair was elected as Pastor. Often times inclement weather would hinder some families from reaching their destination because the Neuse River would swell along its banks making it hard to cross. (The road and bridge were not constructed as they are today) The decision was made to separate the congregation into two groups. The group on the west bank formed Elevation Baptist Church which still occupies the spot on higher ground on New Bern Avenue just west of the river. The group on the east bank formed Malaby's Crossroads Baptist Church on Smithfield Road. The Smithfield Road Church site was given by Walter Miles.

 

Throughout its more than one hundred year history, Malaby's has experienced many successes and gone through many changes. The church remained at the Smithfield Road site for over 100 years, and in 1912 land for a cemetery was purchased two tenths of a mile north of the church directly across from Lockhart School. The Church cemetery was founded by one of the first Trustees, Wilson A. Anderson.

 

The original Malaby's Church on Smithfield Road was a church rooted in that old time religion. Hardwood floors, an old pot-bellied stove and kerosene lamps once decorated the inside of the old white frame church. A steel bell rang out on Sunday mornings and during funeral processionals from the steeple of the church. In remodeling projects throughout the late 1960's and early 1970's, the church was bricked, indoor toilet facilities, carpet, and a fellowship hall were added. Stained-glass windows, chandeliers, central air, a baptismal pool and cushions for the pews were later added.

 

Many older members still remember spirit-filled revivals and outside picnics with lemonade dipped from a wooden barrel. The "mourners' bench" was for any unsaved individual given the "invitational call" to sit on this designated bench for prayer and to consider joining the Church. Early converts would be baptized in an area pond while the congregation joined in a solemn but spirit-filled verse of "Wade In The Water" or "Take Me To The Water." Congregational singing enhanced the worship services on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month. In the early years, Rev. G.A. Jones, Sr. pastored Juniper Level Baptist Church on the 1st and 3rd Sundays; so we shared him as pastor on the 2nd and 4th Sundays. Dr. Jones pastored Malaby's for 32 years - - longer than any other minister in the church's history. A host of new members joined through his ministry and preaching. After Dr. Jones' resignation in 1991, the church elected to begin worshipping every Sunday. On Sunday, October 20, 1991, Rev. Calvin Edward Johnson, preached the gospel and in installation services held on May 24, 1992 at 4:00 PM, he became the pastor of Malaby's Crossroads Baptist Church.

 

The church has had 12 pastors. The Rev. Harmon Pair was re-elected pastor a second time and served until his death in 1928. Rev. Sylvester Hall followed Rev. Pair. Then there was Rev. Robert Crockett, Rev. V.T. Williams, Rev. J.H. Clanton, Rev. Sylvester Hall, Rev. Otis Dunn, Rev. Nilous Avery, Rev. A.A. Crum, Rev. L.B. Hockaday, Dr. G.A. Jones, Sr., and Dr. Calvin Edward Johnson.

Through many tireless efforts, Dr. C. E. Johnson and the congregation eventually authorized church officers to secure and purchase a tract of land on Old Knight Road. The timber on that land was sold, and on March 05, 2000, ground breaking ceremonies were held at the new Church site. A little more than a year later, on August 26, 2001, our vision became a reality as we dedicated our new edifice to the Lord.

 

In April of 2003 Dr. C. E. Johnson announced his retirement. During this time Rev. C. R. Edwards served as interim pastor. Finally in 2004 the members decided to search for a full time pastor who was equipped to lead us into the future. We prayed that God would send us one who was spiritually connected, grounded in the word, a wonderful servant, and an encouragement to the congregation. During that search there was one who stood out as a 'bright and shining star' for Christ, his name was Rev. James S. Utley. From the day he accepted our invitation to preach at Malaby's, the deacons, trustees, and members knew we had found our leader. On October 01, 2004, Rev. James S. Utley, preached the gospel as the thirteenth pastor of Malaby’s Crossroads.

A graduate of Shaw University with many more accolades, Rev. Utley came to us after years as an Associate Minister under Rev. Dr. W. B. Lewis at First Cosmopolitan Baptist Church in Raleigh. The Malaby's Crossroads Church Family has been deeply blessed by the ministry of Rev. Utley, and we thank God as we eagerly look forward to the future with him as our leader..

 

Today new members are welcomed to fulfill God's purpose in their lives as members of Malaby's Crossroads Baptist Church, and we solicit your prayers as we continue great endeavors in the Name of the Lord.