Our history

In 1943, a faithful group of believers responded to God’s call to plant a church rooted in Scripture, community, and service. Under the leadership of P. S. Ogborne the congregation gathered in the Western Addition/Fillmore area of San Francisco, ministering to families, migrants, and working-class households who were longing for a spiritual home. In 1950 the congregation purchased the historic building at 2135 Sutter Street that had previously served as the Knights Templar’s Golden Gate Commandery. Under the subsequent pastorate of G. L. Bedford the church paid off the mortgage, changed its name to Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, and grew its impact in the city.

Our beautiful facility at 2135 Sutter Street is a landmark in its own right. Originally built in 1906-1907 as the Golden Gate Commandery #16 of the Knights Templar (a Masonic order), designed by architects Matthew O’Brien & Carl Werner. The building is steel-reinforced with brick exterior walls trimmed in elaborate cream-terra-cotta detailing in the Jacobean Phase of the Medieval Revival style. Features such as shields, winged knights, crosses, sculptured heads and crenelated roofline give it a medieval character adapted well for its later ecclesiastical use. In January 1993 the building was officially designated San Francisco Landmark No. 202. This architectural heritage anchors our identity: we inhabit a space that speaks of endurance and transformation—just as our ministry does.