Our History

1913 – Prayer group in First Ward section of Charlotte started and dedicated the Gilfield Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Winfield S. Scott as Pastor.

1932 – Under the leadership of Rev. W.H. Shaw moved from 38 Brown’s Row to 623-A North Meyers Street.

1953 – Church was moved to a new location and dedicated as Mt. Olivet Baptist Church under the wise leadership of Rev. M.L. Davidson.

1959 – In February of this year, the church was destroyed by a fire, so the church held its services in the cafeteria of the First Ward School

1961 – November, 13 with land donated by Myers Park Baptist Church a new edifice was completed and dedicated as University Park Baptist Church, under the leadership of Rev. L.J. Shipman.

1964 - The Rev. Talmadge A. Watkins was installed as Pastor on the first Sunday in March. Under his leadership, the church continued to make progress, and the membership more than doubled.

1972 - The Rev. James E. Palmer was installed as Pastor. During his tenure the membership grew and many programs such as the Bus Ministry, Tape (Audio) Ministry, Daycare Ministry, Evangelism Ministry and the Camp for Youth was add to the ministry. 

1982 – A new edifice was dedicated on January 10 at 2348 Keller Avenue.

1990 - Rev. Claude R. Alexander, Jr. was installed as Pastor on September 23. Under his leadership there was a renewed focus on our community and on mission. He instituted such programs as global missions, counseling drug and AIDS victims, and ministering to the youth, just to name a few.

 1995 -  “The Vision at the Park” began in December. The church commissioned a feasibility study to determine the possibility of modifying our current site to meet the present needs.  At that time, the congregation’s size had peaked at 1,000.

1997 – A plan was presented to construct a new sanctuary in January.

1999 – Ground was broken to build a new facility on 54 acres in North Charlotte as the church experienced a dramatic shift from January of 1997 with 1,300 congregants to 4000 congregants in September of 1999. There was also a change from offering two morning services to four morning services.

2001 - April, the first service in the new church, located 6029 Beatties Ford Road, was held.  This was preceded by with a weekend of celebration including the unveiling of a cross sculpture by world renowned artist Richard Hunt.  This new location has a seating capacity of 2,500.  It features a bookstore, family life and wellness center, audio and television production rooms, nurseries, and many other services to meet the needs of the members and the community.

2002 – October, the church expanded with the planting of “The Park South” church.

2003 – Fall, “The Park Ministries” the umbrella name under which the locations of The Park Church operate opened a full service healthcare facility called AmeriCare Health at The Park, which is adjacent to the church’s Beatties Ford location.

2006 – The Park Church purchased 529,000 square-feet property known as the Charlotte Merchandise Mart.