Bethany Baptist Church had its birth in a humble Sunday School. It was in the year 1897 that the church was organized and services were held in what was known as Crab Hollow, Wilkinsburg, PA. Rev. Payne served as the first pastor and Rev. D. W. Simms served as Bethany's second pastor. Rev. Wiley Simpson was the third pastor but was forced to resign soon after assuming his duties, because of ill health. On June 16, 1901, Rev. Thomas W. Anderson was called to the pastorate. Soon afterwards, seeing that the meeting place in Crab Hollow was inadequate and unsuited for public worship, the church moved to purchase the present site at 7734 Tioga Street for the sum of $5,000. A small frame building was situated on the lot, which was formerly a German Lutheran Church, and served the growing congregation for a decade. Rev. Anderson was a pioneer. He was a man of great vision and sound judgment. In addition to purchasing the new site for the church, he built up the membership from fifteen to more than two hundred. After eight years of fruitful service at Bethany, he resigned to accept a call to a church in Rochester, PA.

Rev. Anderson resigned in 1909 and was followed by Rev. S. A. Jordan, a man of deep thought and eloquent delivery. Rev. Jordan remained only two years. Rev. Kilgore was the sixth pastor and remained two years. His administration was noted for two events. The auditorium was renovated and made beautiful and comfortable. The $5,000 debt owed on the church was largely paid off through the efforts of a club known as the Willing Workers headed by Mrs. George L. Pollard. Rev Kilgore returned to a pastorate in Philadelphia.

Rev. H. Jones acted as supply pastor for one year. Then in 1915, Rev. J. G. St. Clair Drake was called to Bethany. The church building was moved back to the rear of the lot and excavation for the foundation of a new church building was started. The depression, following World War I, hit the congregation hard. The building project was abandoned, because of a lack of funds. After eight years, Rev. Drake resigned. In July 1924, Rev. Maurice L. Gordon was called to Bethany and began one of the most eventful periods in our church history. The old church was torn down and for a time, services were held in a storefront on Brushton Avenue. The church building rapidly took shape and in record time came into being. After serving for eight years, Rev. Gordon resigned and founded Community Baptist Church of this city.

An interim of one year followed, during which time, numerous ministers came to serve. Deacon Sylvester Anderson and L. L. MacDonald did an outstanding job in administering the affairs of the church and in keeping the congregation unified. In 1934, Rev. C. M. Smith was called to serve. Unfortunately, due to previous commitments, he could not accept the position. Rev. Smith recommended Rev. O. M. Locust. The mortgage debt at the time was $43,500. The great depression continued and the debt was reduced to $20,00, then to $16,000. Rev. Locust served the church for nine years and resigned to accept a call to Owensboro, KY. On December 1, 1944, Rev. Clarence E. McFadden accepted the call to Bethany. In the fourteen years of his pastorate, a parsonage at 708 Oakwood Street was purchased, the members who loaned the church money were paid back, and the mortgage lifted.

In 1959, the Rev. Charles F. Tame was called as the twelfth pastor of Bethany. During a fruitful 18-year pastorate, Rev. Tame led the congregation toward significant spiritual development. Strong delineation between church membership and salvation was emphasized, a foreign missions program was instituted, and proper emphasis was given to Bible study and expository preaching. Under Pastor Tame's administration, the church building underwent major renovation (1976). Following the sudden death of Pastor Tame in December 1977, Bethany began what was to become a two and a half year period without a pastor. The Board of Deacons performed admirably, leading the congregation and unifying them.

In June 1980, the congregation extended a call to the Rev. Richard Allen Farmer of New York City as its thirteenth pastor. Coming from a rich spiritual, musical and academic background, Pastor Farmer brought to Bethany his love for worship, music and people-to-people ministry. In the first 18 months of his service to Bethany, he reinstated the children's sermon, organized prayer cells on Wednesday evenings, prayers of preparation on Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m., the Voices of Bethany (a musical ensemble) and monthly men's fellowship/study breakfast. Pastor Farmer served for eight years. Rev. Raymond Chin was appointed as interim pastor from 1988 to 1990.

Dr. William R. Glaze was called as the fourteenth pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in 1990. Dr. Glaze entered the pastorate of Bethany with an outstanding background in pastoral experience and Christian Education. He also has God-given ability in the area of Bible-based expository preaching and teaching. It was quite evident that God had a purpose for Pastor Glaze at Bethany. God entrusted Pastor Glaze with a vision to see the need for Christian outreach and spiritual maturity for the membership. A new building would be needed to house additional ministries as Bethany reached out to its surrounding neighborhood, the city of Pittsburgh and worldwide.

Through the prayers, support and encouragement of the Bethany Family, the vision was realized. The Bethany Center, a multi-purpose building came to fruition in 2002. Under Pastor Glaze's leadership and the diligent labor of the membership, ministries have more than doubled.

Including three new city-wide ministries. The Bible Institute, a Biblical Counseling Ministry, and Diakonia Ministries, a non-profit ministry of the church. Bethany's Deaf Ministry was also founded with the support and vision of Pastor Glaze. Services are interpreted each Sunday morning for the hearing impaired.

During this leadership three sons of Bethany have been ordained and called as full-time pastors. Ten pulpit ministers at Bethany have received Ministerial Certification Licenses. As a first for Bethany, a woman was among those who received a license. We are blessed to have a minister whose faithfulness to God is paramount and is reflected in his teaching.

Bethany Baptist Church continues its emphasis on personal conversion, discipleship and evangelism. Through these things, we believe God is honored.

"The grass withers, the flower fades, But the Word of our God stands forever"
Isaiah 40:8 (NASB)
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