Our History
Since 1927, the Wilborn Temple First Church of God in Christ, Inc. has been a house of worship. The ground work for the foundation began when a Buffalo, New York Missionary, Mother Charlotte Resper, came to conduct a revival at Union Missionary Baptist Church. The revival reached beyond the walls of the church and found its way into the home of a member of the church, Ms. Elsie Black. Mrs. Alice Charles Harmon was drawn by the Spirit of God to the house where she surrendered to the will of God. These sisters banned together in prayer and supplication and in studying God's Word and fasting. The Lord sent other believers, Elsie Dickerson and her sister, Emilie Williams from New York City, and Gladys Tucker-Robinson came from Baltimore.
There were several preachers who came for short-lived periods: Elder Lacy from Buffalo, Elder Richardson of Connecticut, and Elder Walker of New York City. When Elder L. W. Parsons came, he found a groups of young saints worshiping God at 40 Franklin Street. A short time later, he decided to move the congregation to South Ferry Street, then to Green Street and finally to 23 Dongan Avenue. Membership increased as more Albany residents came to the Lord. Elder Parsons' door-to-door ministry and prayers drew hungry souls to Christ. The body was strengthened when former members of Elder Parson's church in Mississippi migrated to the City of Albany. As he traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to attend the Church of God in Christ's Annual convocations, he brought others saints north. Packed with parcels of clothing, bags of peanuts, vegetables and other necessities, he prepared for the long ride to Albany. Children were squeezed in between the adults. However, they all made it to the Apromised land. One year, his 7-passenger Buick brought 17 men, women and children to unite with the members of Albany.
The church moved to 79 Hamilton Street from Dongan Avenue and is fondly remembered as Old 79. After the passing of Elder L. W. Parsons, the mantel of leadership rested on the shoulders of the Assistant Pastor, Elder William M. Wilborn. On January 11, 1940, Elder Wilborn was appointed Pastor by the late Bishop O.M. Kelly. Under his leadership, the church debt was paid off and the building was beautifully remodeled and enlarged to accommodate a growing congregation.
The Church was incorporated in 1949 as the First Church of God in Christ Inc. and later received the name of Wilborn Temple in honor of Bishop Wilborn. Due to relocation by the Urban Renewal Agency, it became necessary to search for a new home. In August 1957, through the intervention of God and perseverence of Pastor Wilborn, we were blessed to acquire the Beth Emeth Synagogue at 121 Jay Street. We excitedly marched from 79 Hamilton Street to our new place of worship. Through prayer, fasting, sacrifice, labor, and the united effort of all members of the congregation, the mortgage burning ceremony took place in three years and ten months of a five-year contract. In February 1967, Pastor William M. Wilborn was consecrated Bishop, the first Black Bishop to preside in upstate, NY. In 1974, Bishop Wilborn was called home to rest and Elder Emmett H. Jeffress succeeded as Pastor of Wilborn Temple.
Under the leadership of Pastor Jeffress, a food pantry and substance abuse outreach program have been added to the many ministries of the church and we've embarked on the restoration of our historic building.
In 2007, Dr. Jeffress was called home to rest and Elder Solomon Dees succeeded him as Pastor of Wilborn Temple.
Pastor Dees is committed to know Christ better and to make Him known (Phillipians 3:10). His vision is to reach out to lost souls and fulfill the great commission: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
