Mt. Carmel Baptist Church

Building A Strong Future From A Firm Foundation:  

Mount Carmel Baptist Church organized in 1882 has existed in the West Philadelphia Area for 119 years. Church History must be based on leadership and direction from the pastor. Each pastor in Mount Carmel's history had a vision of the Church based on the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and his promise of eternal life. 

"Where there is no vision, the people perish: ....Proverbs 29:18

The History of Mount Carmel can be divided into several distinctive periods. 

A. The Founding Period, Lay Founders and Ordained Ministers Finding a place and organizing the Church Lay Founders, 1882-1887 Rev. Lewis Tyler, 1888-1892 Rev. Napper H. Hester, 1894-1901 Rev. Lewis G. Jordan, 1901-1903 Rev. C .C. Coleman, 1904-1910 Rev. Daniel W. Wisher, 1911-1912 

B. The Period of Stability - Rev. T.D. Atkins, 1913 to 1932 Completing the Church Building and increasing the membership

C. The Period of Expansion - Rev. Doctor Dennie W. Hoggard, 1933 to 1964 Expanding Church Programs, increasing membership, improving living conditions and establishing historical precedents 

D. The Campbell Years - Rev. Doctor Albert F. Campbell, 1966 to 2005 and Beyond-—. 

- "A People In Pilgrimage" 

- "A Vision For The Mission"

- "A Revolutionary Church Engaged In Revolutionary Services To Make A Difference" 

Mission Statement

The Mission of the Mount Carmel Baptist Church is to Teach, Preach, and Interpret the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Through the Power of The Holy Spirit, we will strive to convert the lost and build up the Body of Christ. We will further endeavor to eradicate mis-education, prejudices, and all forms of Discrimination and their effects.

 In order to accomplish this as a community of faith, we must collectively strive to holistically meet the spiritual, physical, emotional, social, and economic needs of our membership and community. "Until the kingdoms of this world become the Kingdom of Our Lord", and Savior Jesus Christ ... 

"And He shall reign forever and ever." 

Pastor, Rev. Dr. Albert F. Campbell

The programmatic thrust of A People in Pilgrimage in Mount Carmel’s history actually begins in 1966 when the Reverend Albert F. Campbell was called as the minister of the Mount Carmel Baptist Church. But we must go back to the year 1964 and record why and how this calling was accomplished.  

In September 1965, advancing age and poor health forced the retirement of Reverend Doctor Dennie W. Hoggard from active service. Reverend Hoggard was named Pastor Emeritus on September 26, 1965. The appointment of a new Pastor was urgent. A search committee was appointed and the Reverend Dr. J. Quentin Jackson of Mount Zion Baptist Church, in Germantown was selected to oversee the selection and appointment process.

One of the several preachers that impressed the Committee was the young pastor from Beulah Baptist Church, New York City. Reverend Albert F. Campbell had preached the sermon, “Rebel without a Cause”, for the Church’s 1965 Youth Day service. After much prayer and deliberation, the search committee presented the names of the Reverend Bernilee Faison and the Reverend Albert F. Campbell as candidates for the leadership of Mount Carmel.  

The selection of a new minister was held on February 1, 1966 at a Special Church meeting moderated by Dr. J. Quentin Jackson. After the votes were counted, the Board of Deacons announced that Albert Franklin Campbell was the Pastor-Elect of the Mount Carmel Baptist Church. Reverend Albert F. Campbell moved to Philadelphia in April 1966, with his wife, Ruth Price Campbell and his two young sons, Albert, Jr. and Milton K. and began serving the Church. Reverend Campbell was officially installed as the New Minister on Sunday may 22, 1966 with his former pastor, the Reverend Dr. M.C. Williams of Denver, Colorado officiating at the installation service.  

A visionary from the start pastors Campbell’s personal goal had a two prong thrust: To bring souls to Christ by preaching the Word. To provide the leadership to further advance Mount Carmel as a guiding force for the people of the congregation and the community. 

During the transition of pastoral leadership, Pastor Campbell carefully assessed and evaluated the state of the Church. He turned to the Scripture, Numbers: Chapter 29, verse 10, to define the vision that God had given him for Mount Carmel. "..... We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it to you; come thou with us, and we will do the good: for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel." 

Reverend Campbell explained how this Bible verse applied !o Mount Carmel in March 1967. He said, "If we believe and accept this divine promise as having meaning, not only for our predecessors, the Ancient Jews to whom the promise was originally made, but also now for us of the spiritual 'home' and lineage of Israel we should be seeking to implement this promise in our thoughts, words, and deeds, that is, in our living. "  

Reverend Campbell defined Mount Carmel as a "People in Pilgrimage" bound for the destination of which God said, "I will give it to you". Thus the theme for Mount Carmel Baptist Church became, "A People in Pilgrims; to the Holy Kingdom". 

Reverend Campbell established the important process of analyses and planning that has been a hallmark of the Campbell Pastorate. The initial analysis of Church operations and programs in 1966 was based on Pastor Campbell's inclusive managerial style and led to "the reordering and the redirecting" of some roles and goals of the Church's organization. His development of the concepts of forward planning and goal setting has been the major approaches used for assuring the successful completion of Church projects and programs. 

Pastor Campbell has demonstrated his ability to effectively address the challenging issues that impact! Church. His vision for Mount Carmel has encompassed all facets of the Church and its work. In order to accomplish his vision for effective Church Operation, major thematic thrusts were initiated.

The programmatic thrust of A People in Pilgrimage in Mount Carmel’s history actually begins in 1966 when the Reverend Albert F. Campbell was called as the minister of the Mount Carmel Baptist Church. But we must go back to the year 1964 and record why and how this calling was accomplished.
In September 1965, advancing age and poor health forced the retirement of Reverend Doctor Dennie W. Hoggard from active service. Reverend Hoggard was named Pastor Emeritus on September 26, 1965.
The appointment of a new Pastor was urgent. A search committee was appointed and the Reverend Dr. J. Quentin Jackson of Mount Zion Baptist Church, in Germantown was selected to oversee the selection and appointment process.
One of the several preachers that impressed the Committee was the young pastor from Beulah Baptist Church, New York City. Reverend Albert F. Campbell had preached the sermon, “Rebel without a Cause”, for the Church’s 1965 Youth Day service. After much prayer and deliberation, the search committee presented the names of the Reverend Bernilee Faison and the Reverend Albert F. Campbell as candidates for the leadership of Mount Carmel.
The selection of a new minister was held on February 1, 1966 at a Special Church meeting moderated by Dr. J. Quentin Jackson. After the votes were counted, the Board of Deacons announced that Albert Franklin Campbell was the Pastor-Elect of the Mount Carmel Baptist Church.
Reverend Albert F. Campbell moved to Philadelphia in April 1966, with his wife, Ruth Price Campbell and his two young sons, Albert, Jr. and Milton K. and began serving the Church. Reverend Campbell was officially installed as the New Minister on Sunday may 22, 1966 with his former pastor, the Reverend Dr. M.C. Williams of Denver, Colorado officiating at the installation service.
A visionary from the start pastors Campbell’s personal goal had a two prong thrust:
To bring souls to Christ by preaching the Word.
To provide the leadership to further advance Mount Carmel as a guiding force for the people of the congregation and the community.


During the transition of pastoral leadership, Pastor Campbell carefully assessed and evaluated the state of the Church. He turned to the Scripture, Numbers: Chapter 29, verse 10, to define the vision that God had given him for Mount Carmel. "..... We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it to you; come thou with us, and we will do the good: for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel."


Reverend Campbell explained how this Bible verse applied !o Mount Carmel in March 1967. Me said, "If we believe and accept this divine promise as having meaning, not only for our predecessors, the Ancient Jews to whom the promise was originally made, but also now for us of the spiritual 'home' and lineage of Israel we should be seeking to implement this promise in our thoughts, words, and deeds, that is, in our living. "
Reverend Campbell defined Mount Carmel as a "People in Pilgrimage" bound for the destination of which God said, "I will give it to you". Thus the theme for Mount Carmel Baptist Church became, "A People in Pilgrims; to the /span> Holy Kingdom".


Reverend Campbell established the important process of analyses and planning that has been a hallmark of the Campbell Pastorate. The initial analysis of Church operations and programs in 1966 was based on Pastor Campbell's inclusive managerial style and let to "the reordering and the redirecting" of some roles and goals of the Church's organization. His development) the concepts of forward planning and goal setting has been the major approaches used for assuring the successful completion of Church projects and program1


Pastor Campbell has demonstrated his ability to effectively address the challenging issues that impact! Church. His vision for Mount Carmel has encompassed all facets of the Church and its work. In order to accomplish his vision for effective Church Operation, major thematic thrusts were initiated.