Our
Church History
Rev. James E. Welch
In the beginning of Hopewell, Rev. James E. Welch, a white minister, preached to the slaves and freed blacks under a brush arbor. He baptized over forty members in a stream a few miles away. Rev. Welch, with the help of Rev. Thomas Jefferson, a white missionary from the St. Louis Baptist Association, appointed Hopewell's first African American pastor, Rev. Isam Morton.
Rev. Isam Morton
Pastor Morton was appointed Hopewell's first African American pastor in 1862, the year the United States Congress abolished slavery. Isam served the congregation well and faithfully for 40 years.
Rev. James Parham
Rev. James Parham was selected as Hopewell's pastor on December 22, 1962. Under his leadership, several men were called to the ministry. In 1987, a larger sanctuary was built and dedicated to Rev. Parham who continued to Pastor at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church of Wentzville for thirty years.
