Those petitioning the Rev. J. H. Williams were as follows: Mr. Mrs. John Lakes, Mr. Mrs. Charles Carnegie, Mr. Mrs. Douglas Heard, Mr. Mrs. John Barber, Mr. Mrs. Clerksie Walker, Rev. Mrs. Hines, Mrs. Mary J. Bolden and Mr. John Lang. Rev. Phillips, who formerly pastored Little St. James Baptist Church in West Philadelphia, allowed the group led by Brother John Lakes to organize under his church’s name. Rev. Phillips also served as their interim pastor until April. Rev. M.R. Goodman, then pastoring his church at & Haverford Avenue in West Philadelphia permitted the group to use his building until they were able to obtain their own. On April 28, 1931, this group increased by three members: Miss Eula Reid, Mrs. Annie Mae Walker, and Mrs. Keither Williams. The members relocated to the Old Haddington Place at 37 ll Warren Street. Having acquired their own place to worship, the group called Rev. Williams to serve as their pastor. In July, the need for a larger edifice led to the acquisition of a larger building at 38‘“ & Hamilton Streets in West Philadelphia, The membership by vote elected to name their church The Williams Chapel Baptist Church after its founding.

Again, without pastoral leadership, the membership of Metropolitan petitioned Rev. Miller Lee Gayton, Pastor of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Pottsville, Pennsylvania to serve as their third Pastor. Rev. Gayton accepted the offer and on the first Sunday of August, 1953, took official charge as the Pastor of the Metropolitan Baptist Church. He presented the church a fifteen point program, to be worked out over a period of years. The program was accepted by the church. First on the list was prayer. A worker’s Council was organized and a New Member’s Club was established for the induction of new members. An evangelistic program was started in the Education Department of the church and was very effective among the youth of the church. Under Rev. L. Gayton’s leadership and preaching of the gospel, thousands of members were added to the church as candidates for baptism, Christian experience, and restoration. In December of 1954, the mortgage of the church was burned, clearing the church of all debts. The edifice located at 3728 -30 Haverford Avenue soon became too small to accommodate the needs of its membership. Under the dynamic leadership of Metropolitan’s visionary Pastor Gayton, the task of securing a larger edifice was undertaken. In July of 1955, $10,000.00 was deposited with the Westminister Presbyterian Church as a negotiating fee toward the purchase of this historic edifice, a parsonage, and a Vacant lot at 35th and Baring Streets. The opening selling price was $250,000.00; however, after much prayer and inspired negotiating, a purchase price of 106,000.00 was agreed upon. The Metropolitan Baptist Church relocated from its old church on Haverford Avenue and the membership marched over to the new facilities at 3500 Baring Street on Sunday, March 25, 1956. Our present edifice was erected in 1875_76 and has been declared an historic site by the Philadelphia Historic Commission. The massive lower corner was completed in 1887 and the bell chimes still faithfully ring today. The building is an example of Victorian Gothic design and was originally created by architect Thomas W. Richards and is similar to his other artistic works at the University of Pennsylvania’s College Hall and St Mary’s Church in Hamilton Village Our stained glass windows, where well-known Christian symbols are incorporated into the wall decorations, have been appraised at several thousand dollars.

The membership of Metropolitan grew from two hundred members to one thousand, two hundred active members. In four and a half years, August 28,1960, the mortgage was burned on the edifice we now occupy. In 1962 an air conditioning unit was installed at the cost of $14,770.00 and was paid off in two years. Also, a Steinway piano was purchased during these developing years. During the early 1970’s, renovations to the church and parsonage totaling $86,948.00 were also completed. For thirty-seven and one-half years, Dr‘ M. L. Gayton led the Metropolitan Baptist Church to great heights in National Baptist work. He served as President of the Baptist Ministers Conference of Philadelphia and Vicinity; Moderator of the Keystone Association of Pennsylvania Baptist State Convention; Chairman of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.; Foreign Mission Board; and Board Member of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc, Dr. Gayton also organized the world renown Metropolitan Baptist Church Male Ensemble and several community programs for ecumenical outreach. He officially retired as Pastor of the Metropolitan Baptist Church on December 31st, 1990.

One of his visions was to install a computer center and in the effort to do so the entire third floor of the Administration Building was rewired for the Computer Center and all administrative offices have computers. In cooperation with the University of Pennsylvania and University City High School computer classes were made available to all Metropolitan members. After four years and three months, Revis Bernard X. James left the Metropolitan Baptist Church on Sunday, June 9,2002 to obtain other Christian endeavors. From June 2002 through December 2003 various ministers were asked to fellowship and preach the Word of God on Sunday mornings. In January, 2003 the Church voted to make Elder Gregory Johnson officiating minister of the Metropolitan Baptist Church. Joining Elder Johnson to form a ministry team during this time were Rev Lee Edna Odom and Minister K‘ Rose Samuel-Evans. Church membership increased and the entire membership began to grow spiritually and the healing that was so much needed and desired began to take place. In January 2004, guided by the Holy Spirit, the church decided to move forward toward filling the pastorate and began to seek Candidates.