Selma’s Green Street Baptist Church proves ‘church’ is more than a building

The congregation at Green Street Baptist Church proves that a “church” is not a building; it’s the community of worshipers. 

The historic sanctuary collapsed in April 2016, and the January 2023 tornado heavily damaged what was left. But Green Street Baptist Church is still alive and well. So much so that the church celebrated its 144th anniversary in their own building on April 27.  

The remains of the collapsed sanctuary have been stabilized and turned into a green space, and services are held in the adjacent building. That building was damaged by the tornado, and most of what was left of the collapsed sanctuary was demolished. 

Church member Aaron Roper said that while the building was being repaired, the Green Street congregation met in the chapel at nearby Miller Funeral Service. Roper thanked Randall Miller for being so welcoming and accommodating. 

Church Deaconess President and Financial Secretary Margaret Rawls said she wanted to get back into their home building in February, but she was told the building wouldn’t be ready until March. On the first Sunday in March, the congregation of Green Street was back in their home building for a service and communion. 

Green Street Pastor Willie A. Harris said being back behind the pulpit in his building was “exhilarating.” 

“It was a spiritual uplifting for all of us,” Harris said. “The Holy Spirit was in this place in a mighty way. We give God all the glory for what he has done for us.”  

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Rawls reported that the anniversary celebration was well attended. “The church and the overflow room were packed,” she said.  

Harris said “more have come back together” on Sundays for what he called “a family reunion.” He also said more of the building will be restored. “We want to be a ray of light and hope for the community,” Harris said.

Church Mother Sarah Carter Craig said, “It’s a blessing to be back in our building.” She then told a bit of history that shows being that “ray of light and hope” is a long-standing tradition at Green Street, which figured prominently in the 1965 Civil Rights movement.

Craig said that Green Street may not get the recognition other churches in Selma get, “but we participated in the Civil Rights Movement just as they did.” She said she has documentation that meals were served at the church for marchers, and marchers slept in their Sunday school rooms upstairs.

“The covers given to (the marchers) were quilts made by my grandmother,” Craig said. “When they realized (the quilts) were antiques, they didn’t want to give them back. We told them they were welcome to them.”

The service at Green Street Baptist, located at 1220 Green St., starts at 9 a.m. every Sunday. Sunday school follows worship, and then brunch is served. “Everyone is welcome,” Roper said.