History of Berea Presbyterian Church
In the 1890s, Mary Jane Thompson, a freedwoman, began teaching reading, writing, and the Bible to African American children, using the basement of St. Louis’ Washington-Compton Presbyterian Church. The school grew into a mission church, and was formally organized by the Presbytery of St. Louis in 1898 as Leonard Avenue Presbyterian Church. In 1908 the congregation’s first full-time pastor, Selden Parr, moved the church to Pine Street and rechristened it Berea Presbyterian Church.
By the early 1960s Berea had moved out of Midtown to the Mill Creek Valley and had become, by its own description, “an all-black congregation surrounded by a deteriorating all-black residential area.” The city of St. Louis’ urban-renewal programs then tore down much of the surrounding neighborhood, erecting mixed-income housing which attracted new white residents. Wedged between the campuses of Saint Louis University and Harris Teacher’s College to the west, and the remaining older homes to the east, Berea’s pastor, Carl Dudley aimed to reorient the congregation toward both communities. The congregation self-consciously adopted the signs of a “first-century Christianity,” hanging a fisherman’s net in the chancel, erecting a rustic wooden cross, and commissioning rough ceramic communion ware.
By 1970, much of Berea’s membership had dispersed, but remained loyal to the congregation, traveling each Sunday from as far as East St. Louis, Ill. and the St. Louis County suburbs, some 20 miles away.
Berea’s Christian Conscience Commission had the pulse of the 1960s, doing study and action for peace, fair housing, and antipoverty, and offering “hospitality for groups not welcome elsewhere,” including Daniel Berrigan, draft resisters, and supporters of Angela Davis. Members of the Submarine Church, which had interrupted the plenary of both the UPCUSA 1970 General Assembly in Chicago, and the United Methodist Church General Assembly in St. Louis in 1972, were sheltered at Berea.
The congregation’s witness for justice persisted during the contentious first days following the city of St. Louis’ federally mandated school desegregation in 1980, hosting orientations for local ministers to serve as observers on the first day of school. Berea today is a family-sized congregation of 41 members, maintaining its more than century-long witness in the heart of St. Louis.
History of Curby Memorial Presbyterian Church
Curby Memorial Presbyterian Church was named in memory of Joey Anna Curby, daughter of Joseph L. Curby and Anna Spargo Curby. Joey was born in Lumber Ci PA, a small town in western Pennsylvania, in October 1861. She moved to St. Louis with her family and died of congestive fever at the family home at 19 North Grand Avenue on August 15, 1894.
Joseph L. Curby was born on a farm in eastern Pennsylvania in 1831, the oldest of six children. In 1846 he completed his education at Pool Forge Military Academy and moved to western Pennsylvania where he went into the timber business. In 1852 he moved to Philadelphia where he took a sales position with a large tobacco concern in order to learn that business.
With the start of the Civil War, he returned to western Pennsylvania and joined a local militia company. He served with a number of different units and attained the rank of Lt. Colonel prior to his honorable discharge in November 1865. Subsequent to his military service, he was known as Colonel Curby.
In August 1866 he moved his family to St. Louis to open a sales office for Smith Brothers Tobacco, the company in which he had become a part owner prior to the war.
Until he retired in 1891, Col. Curby was associated with a number of tobacco companies including Liggett and Myers whose headquarters was in St. Louis at that time. For a brief period in the 1880s and 1890s St. Louis was the center for chewing tobacco production in the United States.
The Curby family first lived at 2903 South 7* and in 1886 moved to 19 North Grand at Pine. The site is currently a part of the St. Louis University campus. Of their three children, only Clarence Edgar Curby survived Joseph’s death. Joseph Curby died at the family home on March 8, 1904.
Colonel Curby was very active in the Masonic Order and did not have a church affiliation. Because his daughter had been active in the Presbyterian church, he offered to fund one half of the construction of the Utah Street sanctuary only if the church was named in memory of his daughter!
Merger Story
In times of change, even the most steadfast institutions may face challenges. This was the case for Berea Presbyterian Church and Curby Memorial Presbyterian Church. These two cherished congregations had served as beacons of hope and faith in their communities for many years. However, as the world transformed, they found themselves struggling to remain relevant and vibrant.
With a heart full of faith and a determination to continue serving their neighbors, both churches embarked on a thoughtful journey to find a solution. They recognized that by coming together, their shared values and united strengths could create a brighter future for their members and the community around them.
Thus, in 2019, just before the world would face the unforeseen storm of the COVID-19 pandemic, Berea Presbyterian and Curby Memorial took a bold step: they merged their congregations. This union symbolized a rebirth, embracing a shared purpose of love, worship, and community service, under the new banner of BereaCurby Presbyterian Church.
The newly formed congregation chose Pastor Alonzo D. Williams to lead this faithful endeavor. With wisdom and compassion, Pastor Williams guided the congregation through the challenges of merging distinct traditions, creating a new, inclusive, and resilient church community.
Together, they faced the many trials of the pandemic, finding innovative ways to stay connected, worship, and serve, even from a distance. Through their resilience and commitment to each other, BereaCurby has continued to shine as a beacon of light and hope in the community.
The story of BereaCurby is a beautiful testament to the power of unity and faith. Today, the church continues its mission to serve, inspire, and share the love of God with all, carrying forward the rich legacies of its predecessors while looking hopefully toward the future.
Mission Statement:
At BereaCurby Presbyterian Church, our mission is to glorify God by nurturing a community rooted in love, faith, and service. We are dedicated to fostering spiritual growth through worship, education, and compassionate outreach, striving to be a beacon of hope in the heart of St. Louis and beyond.
Vision Statement:
Our vision is to create an inclusive and welcoming congregation that reflects God’s love for all people. We aspire to be a transformative force in our community, empowering individuals to live out their faith, support one another in fellowship, and actively engage in making a positive impact in the world. By embodying the teachings of Christ, we aim to inspire others to walk with us in the journey of faith, hope, and love.
What We Believe:
We at BereaCurby Presbyterian Church hold love at the heart of everything we do. We believe in a loving God who cares for each of us and calls us to care for one another. We find inspiration in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, who showed us how to live with compassion, humility, and grace.
We believe the Bible is a source of wisdom and guidance, helping us navigate life’s joys and challenges. As a community, we gather to worship, pray, and learn together, finding strength and support in our shared faith.
We believe that every person is created in the image of God and is valued and loved beyond measure. Our church embraces diversity and welcomes people of all backgrounds to join us on this spiritual journey.
Guided by love and compassion, we strive to serve our neighbors and make a positive difference in our community. We are committed to walking together, growing in our faith, and spreading hope to the world around us.