Our History of the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ Inc. 1925-1942
Metropolitan Spiritual Church of Christ was conceived in the minds of Rev. William Frank Taylor and Rev. Leviticus Lee Boswell. There were no members to begin with, only curious seekers looking for miracles to be performed. They had heard that there were two men who could – talk to the dead- and heal the sick. They came-they saw- they heard and they left believing.
Rev. Taylor had been ordained previously by a white minister, Mrs. Glen Cora Stevens. Her father Rev. Stevens who assisted her also had charge of a church, which housed the congregation of Bishop James, another spiritual minister in town. Through the spirit Rev. Taylor visualized a great awakening and with the help of Rev. Boswell they set about organizing the Metropolitan Spiritual Church of Christ.
Metropolitan Spiritual Church of Christ was born into existence in the home of Mother Cora M. Murray on September 22, 1925 in Kansas City, Missouri, which was located at 1903 East 9th Street. With nine (9) members the church had to crawl and in doing so, they came in contact with many hardships to keep it nourished. With the increase in membership of twenty-four, Rev. Taylor, held a baptism in the big Eleven Lake in Kansas City, Kansas in the presence of a large Crowd of witnesses. The first spiritual way of life had to be established so that future offspring’s could have the right to bring forth true spiritual teachings.
It wasn’t long before little Metropolitan began to grow, walk, and expand, until it had outgrown it’s birthplace and larger quarters had to be secured. Rev. Taylor and Rev. Boswell had meetings in their apartment while looking for a larger place. They inquired about the Florence Mills Apartments, which were also too small. Finally the Knights and Daughters of Tabor Hall located at 1834 East 9th Street was rented and the church by then was strong enough to be assembled.
Now being a full-fledged church, they began organizing the various boards such as Trustees, Choir, Pastor’s Aid, Stewardess, Deaconess, Missionaries, Community Board (wearing the stripped uniform), Good Samaritans and Altar Girls.
Rev. Taylor and Rev. Boswell worked hard and faithfully together to perfect the various boards. Rev. Boswell headed the music department having had much training and experience in that field, he had studied music in Birmingham, Alabama under Miss Julia Mae Kennedy not knowing that they would be co-workers in the field later in life. The choir at that time was rather small so they invited members from other boards to fill in. However it wasn’t long before the choir became the drawing card and again the leaders were faced with the task of finding a larger place to worship. It was then the Holy Spirit gave them the plans for this wonderful place.
There were many times when they didn’t know where their bread was coming from, or where they were going to get rock and mortar to build the church. But God opened up the way for them to purchase a building located at 1231 Garfield and through the spirit Rev. Taylor was given the plans for this grand edifice.
Rev. William Frank Taylor was ordained Bishop of the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ on Sunday morning, September 23, 1934 at the request of Bishop Taylor.
The MSCC radio broadcast was first aired over radio station KITE on August 22, 1935, Sunday nights at 8:30 p.m. Metropolitan opened with the theme “I’m singing in my soul.” At the broadcast time, radios were tuned to the Metropolitan Spiritual Church of Christ all over the city eager to hear the choir and the Word of God.
Metropolitan had many offspring’s that had remained faithful at their post of duty and had learned their lessons. They were now ready to graduate to a higher calling. This inspired Bishop Taylor to develop a family reunion which is known as – The Congress of the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ, Inc. The congress was organized to meet once a year at the anniversary of Metropolitan so that the parents could see their progress. Some stayed with the teachings, others added on or took from what they wanted to. But the Mother Church stayed with spiritual truth and people came from far and near to get a glimpse of that Holy Place. There is no other place in the United States like it.
On Tuesday, March 17, 1942, at the age of 55 years, Bishop William F. Taylor the founder of the Metropolitan Spiritual Church of Christ (the Mother Church) and the founder of the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ, Inc., went to be with the Lord in the home of Rev. Mother Pearl C. Woods, 1324 East Vernon in Los Angeles, California; Tuesday morning at 1:15AM Central Time. The death of Bishop William Frank Taylor brings to a close the career of one of the most colorful figures in the history of Black America in Kansas City, MO.
Bishop James D. Tindall Sr. pastor of the Metropolitan Spiritual Church of Christ was chosen by the College of Bishops of the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ, at its Annual Session, on February 10, 2009, in Los Angeles, CA, to the position of Senior Presiding Prelate.
For the second time in history, the head of the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ is the pastor of the church which bears the name of the denomination. Not since the death of Bishop Frank Taylor in 1942, has the head of the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ pastored the mother church of the denomination. Friday, July 24, 2009, Bishop James D. Tindall, Sr., was consecrated as the Senior Presiding Prelate of the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ.
Sunday, October 7, 2018, Bishop James G. Bryant, Sr., became the pastor of Metropolitan Spiritual Church of Christ.
Metropolitan Spiritual Church of Christ was conceived in the minds of Rev. William Frank Taylor and Rev. Leviticus Lee Boswell. There were no members to begin with, only curious seekers looking for miracles to be performed. They had heard that there were two men who could – talk to the dead- and heal the sick. They came-they saw- they heard and they left believing.
Rev. Taylor had been ordained previously by a white minister, Mrs. Glen Cora Stevens. Her father Rev. Stevens who assisted her also had charge of a church, which housed the congregation of Bishop James, another spiritual minister in town. Through the spirit Rev. Taylor visualized a great awakening and with the help of Rev. Boswell they set about organizing the Metropolitan Spiritual Church of Christ.
Metropolitan Spiritual Church of Christ was born into existence in the home of Mother Cora M. Murray on September 22, 1925 in Kansas City, Missouri, which was located at 1903 East 9th Street. With nine (9) members the church had to crawl and in doing so, they came in contact with many hardships to keep it nourished. With the increase in membership of twenty-four, Rev. Taylor, held a baptism in the big Eleven Lake in Kansas City, Kansas in the presence of a large Crowd of witnesses. The first spiritual way of life had to be established so that future offspring’s could have the right to bring forth true spiritual teachings.
It wasn’t long before little Metropolitan began to grow, walk, and expand, until it had outgrown it’s birthplace and larger quarters had to be secured. Rev. Taylor and Rev. Boswell had meetings in their apartment while looking for a larger place. They inquired about the Florence Mills Apartments, which were also too small. Finally the Knights and Daughters of Tabor Hall located at 1834 East 9th Street was rented and the church by then was strong enough to be assembled.
Now being a full-fledged church, they began organizing the various boards such as Trustees, Choir, Pastor’s Aid, Stewardess, Deaconess, Missionaries, Community Board (wearing the stripped uniform), Good Samaritans and Altar Girls.
Rev. Taylor and Rev. Boswell worked hard and faithfully together to perfect the various boards. Rev. Boswell headed the music department having had much training and experience in that field, he had studied music in Birmingham, Alabama under Miss Julia Mae Kennedy not knowing that they would be co-workers in the field later in life. The choir at that time was rather small so they invited members from other boards to fill in. However it wasn’t long before the choir became the drawing card and again the leaders were faced with the task of finding a larger place to worship. It was then the Holy Spirit gave them the plans for this wonderful place.
There were many times when they didn’t know where their bread was coming from, or where they were going to get rock and mortar to build the church. But God opened up the way for them to purchase a building located at 1231 Garfield and through the spirit Rev. Taylor was given the plans for this grand edifice.
Rev. William Frank Taylor was ordained Bishop of the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ on Sunday morning, September 23, 1934 at the request of Bishop Taylor.
The MSCC radio broadcast was first aired over radio station KITE on August 22, 1935, Sunday nights at 8:30 p.m. Metropolitan opened with the theme “I’m singing in my soul.” At the broadcast time, radios were tuned to the Metropolitan Spiritual Church of Christ all over the city eager to hear the choir and the Word of God.
Metropolitan had many offspring’s that had remained faithful at their post of duty and had learned their lessons. They were now ready to graduate to a higher calling. This inspired Bishop Taylor to develop a family reunion which is known as – The Congress of the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ, Inc. The congress was organized to meet once a year at the anniversary of Metropolitan so that the parents could see their progress. Some stayed with the teachings, others added on or took from what they wanted to. But the Mother Church stayed with spiritual truth and people came from far and near to get a glimpse of that Holy Place. There is no other place in the United States like it.
On Tuesday, March 17, 1942, at the age of 55 years, Bishop William F. Taylor the founder of the Metropolitan Spiritual Church of Christ (the Mother Church) and the founder of the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ, Inc., went to be with the Lord in the home of Rev. Mother Pearl C. Woods, 1324 East Vernon in Los Angeles, California; Tuesday morning at 1:15AM Central Time. The death of Bishop William Frank Taylor brings to a close the career of one of the most colorful figures in the history of Black America in Kansas City, MO.
Bishop James D. Tindall Sr. pastor of the Metropolitan Spiritual Church of Christ was chosen by the College of Bishops of the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ, at its Annual Session, on February 10, 2009, in Los Angeles, CA, to the position of Senior Presiding Prelate.
For the second time in history, the head of the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ is the pastor of the church which bears the name of the denomination. Not since the death of Bishop Frank Taylor in 1942, has the head of the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ pastored the mother church of the denomination. Friday, July 24, 2009, Bishop James D. Tindall, Sr., was consecrated as the Senior Presiding Prelate of the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ.
Sunday, October 7, 2018, Bishop James G. Bryant, Sr., became the pastor of Metropolitan Spiritual Church of Christ.
William Frank Taylor - Founder
Leviticus L. Boswell - Director
