Immanuel Baptist Church
2nd and Zanthus

Originally started in 1915 at the 3rd and Lansing home of William Querry, the church grew quickly. By 1925, they were completing a new sanctuary on the corner of 2nd and Zanthus. This beautiful Gothic-type structure constructed of Ozark stone was used as the main sanctuary until 1968, when a strikingly modern designed sanctuary was built on the corner of 3rd and Wheeler.

My attachment to these buildings is somewhat personal. My father was the pastor of IBC for 5 years (1980-1985). This position was the reason we moved to Tulsa. It was also a driving factor in my love for the older structures in the area. As a "preacher's kid", I spent much time in and around the church. At the time, most of the area along 3rd street was getting very run down. There was a gay bar across the street called "Zippers" (parking in the rear!). I can remember the derelict being a constant presence at the church office, asking for food, clothing or most often, money. However, living way down in South Tulsa, I found this poorly aging area of town to be quite fascinating. The church's location was a great launching pad for explorations of the original core portion of the city, including downtown.

Going back to this area now, I'm amazed. It seems that a major renovation of the neighborhood surrounding IBC is taking place.