The former Olivet Baptist Church was constructed in 1927 at the corner of Hosbrook Street and Grove Avenue. Prior to construction of the modest brick church, the lot previously contained six small wood-sided frame houses. The church itself had been established sixty years earlier in 1867 and formally organized in 1875. Olivet Baptist Church’s earliest members were reported in the newspapers as formerly enslaved people who had originally met in a log cabin on Stoughton Fletcher’s farm in the Beech Grove area. After that, the members moved to the McGinnis Farm near Lick Creek, and then to the area of Prospect Street and Leonard Street in the early 1900s before moving to this building in 1927. 

The Olivet Baptist Church was an extremely active church, predominantly serving black neighbors. The church hosted many community events, including gospel music and choir performances, annual tea parties, traveling speakers, special educational and women’s programming, and other receptions. They also had both a young adult missionary group and a junior missionary society, which hosted social events for the younger members. Olivet Baptist Church was led for many decades by the Reverend George Luther Lillard, a former teacher and organizer, who took over as pastor of the church in 1930. Rev. Lillard once said: “preaching the gospel is my work, not a side issue. It is the first and shall be the last work of my life.” 

In 2004, the church became the nondenominational Unity Christian Fellowship church. Marsha Williams and Earl Royston were co-pastors. 75 to 80 people regularly attended services at this time. A decade later, the church was repurposed into the Grove Haus community space and music venue. Now, it’s waiting for its next life. What do you want to see in the space? 

1941 map illustrating the church in pink.
Credit: 1941 Baist Map, MapIndy, City of Indianapolis.

Co-pastors Marsha Williams and Earl Royston outside of their Unity Christian Fellowship church.
Credit: “Community of Faith,” Indianapolis Star, March 26, 2005.

The church in 1978 from a newspaper article.
Credit: “Olivet Church 111 Years Old,” Indianapolis Recorder, October 28, 1978.

1947 Advertisement for Mrs. Willene Sugg and Her Gospel Singers for the Olivet Baptist Church improvement club.
Credit: Advertisement, Indianapolis Recorder, June 28, 1947.