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Photo by Dennis Latham, courtesy Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau

Photo by ©Milton E. Fullman

Vestavia Hills Baptist Church, Birmingham, AL

Threads of Vestavia Hills Baptist Church’s history are woven intricately into the fabric of the community.

by Lynn Grisard Fullman and Milton Fullman Jr. | March 29, 2010

3 Comments

Looking today at a bustling Vestavia Hills, it is difficult to imagine a few decades earlier when a single man had dominion over this crest of the mountain.

Former Birmingham Mayor George Ward bought acreage here in 1923 and set about to create gardens and to build a Greek-style house, which would become the community's namesake.

Devoted to the classics and nature, Ward frequently visited Italy and Greece where he was impressed with the Temple of Vesta in Rome.

He commissioned William Leslie Welton of St. Louis to design a similar structure in Birmingham. The temple was built of dark-pink sandstone with 20 Doric columns, which supported a frieze of carved and painted garlands of flowers and fruit. A garden gazebo, a replica of the Temple of Sibyl at Tivoli near Rome, later was built across from the house.

Although Ward loved his temple, skeptics called the project “Ward's Silo.”

Ward planned to leave his estate to the city—and to be buried on the grounds. However, by the time he died in 1940, the heavily mortgaged estate was sold to satisfy debts and on-site burial was forbidden.

In 1958, Vestavia Hills Baptist Church purchased the home and some 20 surrounding acres. When the congregation outgrew the small space, local civic groups joined the church’s search for a way to save the temple. When no possibilities emerged, Ward's dream was razed, making way for the modern structure where the congregation still meets.

A $5.9 million building project in 2000 expanded the facilities and added memorial gardens and a prayer point overlooking Shades Valley.

The church’s chapel is open during church office hours for personal prayer. Curved stone walls and a stone floor remain from Ward’s original home.

Area residents enjoy a track, playground and picnic tables near the church entrance.

Vestavia Hills Baptist Church holds worship services on Sundays at 10 a.m., and Wednesdays at 6 p.m.

The church (205-979-5920) is located at 2600 Vestavia Dr., just off Shades Crest Road with an across-the-valley view of Vulcan.

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3 Comments

Mel

March 30, 2010 - 2:36 pm

Lynn,

Thanks for sharing the blog—loved it!

Virginia

April 05, 2010 - 10:56 pm

Thanks for sharing.  Great Story! Virginia and Johnny

Sarah Chastain

April 08, 2010 - 7:24 pm

I really enjoyed being reminded of the churches history. You always do such a good job with your articles. I always look forward to reading them.



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