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Also naming the unit block of Malvern Avenue between North 63rd Street and Wynnewood Road as "Reverend Beatty Way" in recognition of the 65th Anniversary of Holy Cross Baptist Church and in honor of the dedicated service and tireless effort of its founding pastor, Reverend Joseph H. Beatty, Sr.
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WHEREAS, The Holy Cross Baptist Church was founded on Saturday, December 2, 1950 in the study of the pastor of White Rock Baptist Church with seven founding members: Reverend Joseph H. Beatty, Sr., Clara Meade Beatty, Willie Pearl Geiger, Mary Byrd, Robert Beatty, Thomas Oliver Beatty and Rosalie Beatty; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Joseph H. Beatty, Sr., a graduate of Virginia Seminary and College in Lynchburg was a true visionary, scholar, humanitarian and twice -born Christian who answered "the call" placed upon his heart to organize a Baptist church north of Market Street and west of 60th Street in West Philadelphia. He successfully fulfilled his call with the support of his family as founding members of the Church; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Beatty established the first church in the basement of a corner property located at 6137 Vine Street and in time moved to the first floor of that building becoming a store front church; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Beatty's passionate sermons and community involvement steadily increased membership at the storefront church until it outgrew its capacity and on Sunday, June 17, 1967, church members marched two blocks to their new church building, a former factory that was purchased and renovated into the new Holy Cross Baptist Church located at 60th and Vine Streets.
WHEREAS, While ministering at this Vine Street location, Rev. Beatty was installed as the president of the Baptist Ministers' Conference of Philadelphia and Vicinity; and
WHEREAS, Once again the members outgrew the capacity of their building and in 1973, the church learned that Overbrook Baptist Church located at 63rd Street and Malvern Avenue was planning to move. Af...
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