The City View Missionary Baptist Church History

                City View Missionary Baptist Church was organized in November 1956, with eight members – Rev. Nathaniel Taylor, Sis. Myrtle Taylor, Rev. Will Starr, Sis. Bell Starr, Deacon Thomas Smith, Sis. Carrie Smith, Sis. Juanita Watson and Bro. Robert Taylor who has been meeting and praying together as a band in the home of Deacon and Sis. Carrie Smith.  Under the leadership of rev. Nathaniel Taylor, the name “City View” was shown to him in a vision and Rev. Taylor and the Holy Spirit gave the church its name.

                The first service of this small but spiritual body was held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox on the third Sunday, November 18, 1956.  Reverend Taylor’s subject was “As I was with Moses, so shall I be with you.”  Joshua 1:5.  The Lord was with us, the people worshiped and praised God, the Holy Spirit was revealing and members were inspired.

                This faithful band of people decided to establish a standard meeting place to continue this mission.  On the Fourth Sunday, November 25, 1956, City View started meeting in a building located at 5411 Hastings Street.  People began to come, souls were added, auxiliaries were set up and the church grew strong in members and in spirit.  We united with a Three-Church Fellowship which was an inspiration to the church.

                On May 8, 1958 we moved into a larger building located at 3768 Townsend Street and God continued to add laborers into the vineyard.  With the Lord’s blessing, we were able to purchase our first building on April 17, 1961 located at 8654 Mack Avenue.  There we worshipped and served faithfully thanking the Lord for his unaccountable blessings.

                On the third Sunday, September 19, 1971, the Lord moved and we marched into our present location at 2222 Coplin, Detroit, Michigan.  In 1978, the mortgage was paid off and we have continued to grow in ministry for the past 38 years at this location because the membership has always worked in under the grace of God and the original theme “Oneness in Christ”, the motto “Moving Forward” and the goal “Winning Souls for Christ”.

                On April 16, 1994, our founder and organizer, Pastor Nathaniel Taylor, passed from labor to reward.  Pastor Taylor will always be remembered for his vision, courage and leadership.  Many have been called out of the congregation and ordained as pastors, ministers and deacons through God’s guidance and under the leadership of Pastor Taylor.  Most notably, Bishop Michael Jones of the Fountain of Truth Baptist Church, was also the interim pastor here from 1994 to 1995, and the last Pastor Eddie Coles, Christian Union M.B.C.  after the passing of the founder, City View endured several years of transition, yet continued to pray and labor in the vineyard until God and the Holy Spirit found favor upon City View once again.

                In April, 2008, God showed his mercy and showered blessings on City View with a leader and pastor in the person of Pastor James L. Taylor Sr..

                The church has several ministries that are community related and we also continue to grow in spiritual warfare as well.  Although the founder is gone, we still feel the presence of the foundation that was laid before us and Pastor Taylor is leading City View down the path and toward the vision that God has set before him.  With the Lord’s guidance and City View’s faithfulness, we know that we will continue to grow and be blessed of the Lord for another 54 years to come.  As Christian soldiers united in the service of the Lord we can rest upon his word and boldly say, “Since God is for us, who can be against us?”

                The church’s theme is “Oneness with Christ!’ and we are continuing with the goal of “Winning Souls for Christ.”