THE BETHLEHEM BAPTIST CHURCH (GREATER BETHLEHEM) WAS ORGANIZED IN 1928 BY THE LATE REV. CHARLES GIVENS ON BIDDLE STREET IN ST. LOUIS, MO. REV. GIVENS WAS ASSISTED BY THE REV. JAMES CHANDLER. REV. CHANDLER DIED IN 1950. REV. CHANDLER WAS MARRIED TO THE LATE MOTHER JOHNNIE MAE CHANDLER, A LONG TIME MEMBER OF GREATER BETHLEHEM WHO DIED IN 1993. THE CHURCH BRIEFLY MOVED TO OFALLON STREET FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS.  REV. GIVENS PASTORED THE CHURCH UNTIL 1948. REV. DANIEL JONES BECAME PASTOR AND PASTORED THE CHURCH UNTIL 1955. REV. GAINES FOLLOWED REV. JONES FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR. THE CHURCH MOVED TO ITS PRESENT SITE 4005 WASHINGTON BOULAVARD IN 1950.

REV. CLEOPHUS ROBINSON WAS OFFICIALLY ELECTED PASTOR OF THE BETHLEHEM BAPTIST CHURCH (GREATER BETHLEHEM) ON FEBRUARY 20, 1957. REV. ROBINSON HAD VISITED THE CHURCH IN LATE 1956 AT THE REQUEST OF THE MEMBERS.  THE MEMBERS ELECTED REV. CLEOPHUS ROBINSON TO BE THEIR PASTOR. WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF REV. ROBINSON'S ELECTION AS PASTOR OF THE CHURCH, THE CHURCH PAID $1200.00 IN BACK TAXES TO THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS ON EASTER SUNDAY IN APRIL 1957. TWO MONTHS LATER IN THE MONTH OF JUNE 1957 THE CHURCH MOVED UPSTAIRS FROM THE BASEMENT QUARTERS TO HOLD WORSHIP SERVICES. THE CHURCH PURCHASED ITS FIRST PEWS IN 1958. THE UPSTAIRS WAS THE FORMER HOME OF THE LANE LIVER PILL COMPANY.  BEFORE THE MOVE, THE COMPANY WAS UPSTAIRS AND THE CHURCH WORSHIPPED IN THE BASEMENT.

IN 1958, BECAUSE OF EXPANDING CROWDS AND MEMBERSHIP GROWTH, THE TWO UPPER OFFICES WHICH WERE LOCATED ON THE NORTHWEST AND NORTHEAST OF THE BUILDING WERE REMOVED TO ENLARGE THE MAIN SANCTUARY. THE BACK STEPS WERE REINSTALLED TO MAKE SPACE FOR AN ADDITIONAL ROOM. 

IN APRIL OF 1959 THE CHURCH PURCHASED A NEW HAMMOND ORGAN AT A COST OF $3500.00 AND LATER THAT YEAR A STEINWAY BABYGRAND PIANO FOR $5000.00.

IN 1959 THE CHURCH STARTED ITS COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM TO ASSIST NEEDED FAMILIES WHO MAY HAVE LOST THEIR HOUSING, CLOTHING AND FOOD DUE TO FIRE, LOSS OF JOB, AND OTHER DISASTERS.  AS A RESULT OF THE “HOUR OF FAITH BROADCAST” MANY FAMILIES WOULD CONTACT THE CHURCH FOR HELP IN THE FORM OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE, FOOD, CLOTHING AND SPIRITUAL SUPPORT.

IN 1960 THE CHURCH WAS REMODELED BY HUBBARD & HUBBARD CONTRACTORS AT A COST OF $32,000.00 DOLLARS.  18 ADDITIONAL FEET WERE ADDED TO THE CHURCH WHICH INCLUDED THE CHOIR STAND AND PULPIT. THE CHURCH UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE LATE REV ROBINSON PAID THE RENOVATION OFF IN TWO AND A HALF YEARS. DURING THE RENOVATION OF THE CHURCH, SERVICES WERE HELD IN A BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CHURCH.

IN 1962 REV. CLEOPHUS ROBINSON PRESENTED HIS FIRST CLEOPHUS ROBINSON SCHOLARSHIP AWARD TO CAROLYN CARTER AT THE KIEL AUDITORIUM.

IN 1960, THE CHURCH CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING WAS INSTALLED AT THE COST OF $10,000.

IN 1967 THE CHURCH REMODELED THE BASEMENT FOR A COST OF $2676.87. THE RENOVATION WAS DONE BY ARNOLD-OLMS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. THE BASEMENT WAS PARTITIONED OFF AND ROOMS WERE ADDED ALONG THE EAST WALL.

IN 1968 THE PARKING LOT EAST OF THE OLD 4001 BUILDING WAS PURCHASED AT A COST OF $5000.00.

IN JUNE 1969 THE CHURCH PAID OFF THE FIRST MORTGAGE TO GEM REALTY IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,443.37.

IN 1970 THE CHURCH PAID OFF THE SECOND MORTGAGE TO GEM REALTY IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,805.85.

IN 1971 DEACON LOUIS WEEDEN WAS PAID $3500.00 FOR PANELING OF THE CHURCH SANCTUARY.

IN 1972 DEACON LOUIS WEEDEN WAS PAID $2275.00 FOR REMODELING AND INSTALLATION OF LIGHTING FIXTURES.

IN 1973 DEACON LOUIS WEEDEN WAS PAID $4500.00 FOR CONSTRUCTION DONE TO MAIN SANTUARY AND $750.00 TO ENLARGE THE PASTOR’S OFFICE IN 1974.

IN JUNE OF 1974 THE CHURCH PURCHASED NEW OFFICE FURNITURE FOR THE PASTOR’S STUDY AND OFFICES FOR $8059.00.

IN 1976 A NEW ROOF WAS INSTALLED ON THE CHURCH FOR A COST OF $4200.00. DEACON LOUIS WEEDEN’S COMPANY PERFORMED THE WORK.

IN 1985 THE CHURCH PURCHASED SEVERAL LOTS ON WASHINGTON BLVD AND COMPLETED CHURCH RENOVATIONS.

IN 1991 THE CHURCH PURCHASED THE BUILDING AT 4001 WASHINGTON BLVD FOR $20,000 MADE POSSIBLE BY A SPECIAL DONATION.

IN AUGUST OF 1992 THE CHURCH WAS BURNED AND SERVICES COULD NOT BE HELD AT THE CHURCH DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. SERVICES WERE HELD ACROSS THE STREET AT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE FIRE.  SERVICES WERE HELD AT THE KENNERLY TEMPLE ANNEX THE VERY NEXT SUNDAY UNTIL WE RETURNED HOME TO 4005 WASHINGTON ON JUNE 28 OF 1993. THE RETURNED HOME CELEBRATION INCLUDED A PARADE FROM KENNERLY TEMPLE WITH THE LATE PASTOR CLEOPHUS ROBINSON RIDING IN A HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE, MARCHING BAND, AND MEMBERS WALKING AND IN CARS. SISTER DORTHY MORRISON WHO SUNG LEAD ON THE “O HAPPY DAY RECORDING” WITH EDWIN HAWKINS WAS PRESENTED IN CONCERT AT THE CHURCH CELEBRATION.

REV. PAUL ROBINSON BECAME C0-PASTOR OF GREATER BETHLEHEM BAPTIST CHURCH IN 1996.

CONSTRUCTION BEGAN ON THE GREATER BETHLEHEM SENIOR BUILDING IN 1997.

REV. CLEOPHUS ROBINSON SR. DIED ON JULY 2, 1998.

REV. PAUL ROBINSON BECAMES PASTOR OF GREATER BETHLEHEM BAPTIST CHURCH AND REV. SHADRACH ROBINSON BECAME CO-PASTOR UPON THE PASSING OF THE REV. CLEOPHUS ROBINSON.  

THE GREATER BETHLEHEM SENIOR CITIZEN BUILDING WAS COMPLETED AND THE CUTTING OF RIBBONS’ CEREMONY WAS HELD IN MAY OF 2001.

REV. PAUL ROBINSON CONTINUED TO PASTOR THE GREATER BETHLEHEM BAPTIST CHURCH UNTIL MAY 31, 2025, AND RETIRED EFFECTIVELY ON MAY 31, 2025. REV. PAUL ROBINSON SERVED AS C0-PASTOR FOR 3 YEARS UNDER HIS FATHER, THE REV. CLEOPHUS ROBINSON AND PASTORED GREATER BETHLEHEM FOR 27 YEARS. REV. SHADRACH ROBINSON BECAME PASTOR OF GREATER BETHLEHEM ON JUNE 1, 2025.

THE OFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE GREATER BETHLEHEM BAPTIST CHURCH WAS COMPILED BY DR. EDDIE MCCASKILL ON JUNE 5, 2025.