Pilgrim Baptist Church Minnesota history reflects 160 years of faith and resilience
Pilgrim Baptist Church Minnesota history traces its founding by freedom seekers in 1863 and its enduring role as a spiritual and civic cornerstone in St. Paul’s Black community.
Pilgrim Baptist Church has anchored Minnesota’s Black community for over 160 years, providing spiritual refuge, social solidarity, and cultural identity through periods of hardship and transformation. Established in 1863 by freedom seekers who fled enslavement in Missouri during the Civil War, the church stands as a living testament to generations of African Americans’ resilience, faith and heritage.
Robert Thomas Hickman, according to the Minnesota Historical Society, was born into bondage around 1830 in Boone County, Missouri, and emerged as a central figure in the church’s founding. Working as a rail splitter, Hickman learned to read under his enslaver’s instruction and soon began ministering to fellow enslaved people.
In 1863, he and his wife Minta, along with their children and other freedom seekers, embarked on a perilous journey northward. Traveling aboard the steamboat “Northerner,” they reached Fort Snelling before settling in St. Paul.
The congregation initially gathered in private homes before moving to a rented music hall and formally establishing Pilgrim Baptist Church in 1866.
Rev. Dr. Charles Gill, Pilgrim Baptist’s senior pastor, said Hickman’s story “shows that even when society is against you, with faith and perseverance you can overcome the greatest challenges.” Gill, who grew up in New York and came to Minnesota in 2004, emphasized that Pilgrim’s mission extends beyond spiritual guidance, acting as a community anchor.
“Pilgrim Baptist Church is where the walk of faith transforms lives,” he said.
Pilgrim’s history is closely tied to St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood, once a vibrant African American community. The congregation moved there in 1928, adding to the neighborhood’s cultural and social life.
Members helped establish the Hallie Q. Brown House and took part in civil rights efforts, including the St. Paul chapter of the NAACP. Notable members such as Frank Boyd, founder of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, and diplomat William T. Francis helped shape local and statewide Black leadership.
The construction of Interstate 94 in the 1960s displaced thousands of Rondo residents, destroying homes, businesses and institutions. Pilgrim Baptist, led at the time by Rev. Floyd Massey, successfully lobbied for a pedestrian bridge over the highway so church members could continue attending services. Gill describes the effort as symbolic of Pilgrim’s commitment to its community: “We are not just a church unto ourselves; we have the heart of the community within us.”
The church continues to serve civic life, organizing voter registration drives, facilitating civic education, and offering programs addressing social and educational needs. This work continues a deep-rooted tradition where spiritual devotion and community service are inseparable.
Throughout its history, the congregation has held tight to its core values: Scripture-based faith, dignity for all people, Christian education, and compassionate service. Pilgrim’s mission centers on nourishing the hungry, uplifting the marginalized, and strengthening community bonds.
Gill summarized his philosophy: “Faith and action are inseparable. Serving others is part of worship.”
Preserving Pilgrim Baptist also strengthens Black historical memory. Genealogist Mica Anders, who has researched Minnesota’s early African American families, stated that churches serve as repositories for both formal records and oral histories. These include baptismal registers, church directories, bulletins, and family connections often missing from census records.
“When churches are downsized or neighborhoods disrupted, that history can be lost,” Anders said, noting that the church’s archives and community ties help descendants trace their lineage and understand their cultural identity.
Anders has worked largely with Rondo families, and churches like Pilgrim help shape generational identity and resilience. By documenting family histories, hosting social events, and maintaining communal networks, these institutions reinforce a sense of continuity and belonging.
“When something is preserved, it shows that it mattered,” she said. “It gives future generations access to records, stories, and context for who they are and where they come from.”
Sustaining nearly 163 years of history requires balancing tradition with modern relevance. Gill focuses on anchoring the congregation in Scripture while addressing interconnected challenges, offering programs that educate and provide social services, and ensuring the church remains both faithful to its heritage and attuned to the community’s present needs.
“Even through hardship and obstacles, lives can be transformed,” Gill said. Pilgrim Baptist continues to embody that principle, offering a living example of Black resilience, faith, and the enduring strength of community.
Gill hopes young people recognize the power of faith combined with action, noting that the church’s mission is to transform lives through both spiritual guidance and social involvement.
For more information, visit www. pilgrimbaptistchurch.org.
Alaysia Lane is a multimedia journalist and commerce writer based in Minneapolis.