What is now Boulevard Baptist Church began when a few friends gathered at the home of Marion and Peggy Campbell and shared their dream of starting a mission-minded church. By November 1953 those few had grown to 176 Boulevard Baptist Church charter members all from the First Baptist Church of Anderson. These charter members held their meetings in the auditorium of Anderson College with Dr. E.F. Haight, president of the college, as interim pastor. A strong emphasis on mission support and involvement was in the minds and hearts of the founders and has characterized the life and ministry of the church consistently through its first 65 years.

The church bought property on the corner of Boulevard and Greenville streets and renovated a handsome colonial-style residence for worship services. When it was destroyed by lightning, the church began visionary plans for the property to be developed in stages as the membership grew. In 1954, Rev. Tom Brown was called as pastor, and in 1956, the church held its first service in the new facility. The second phase of the building was completed in 1958. The church’s second full-time pastor, Rev. Elwood Orr, was called in 1967. In 1969, the church broke ground to build a sanctuary large enough to accommodate the growing congregation. The present sanctuary was dedicated in April of 1971.

In 1977, Dr. Paul Alverson came to lead the church. He was followed by Dr. Lee Prince who served the congregation from 1981-1984. Under the leadership of the next pastor, Rev. Bobby Morrow, plans were developed for an educational building with areas designed specifically to house the Child Enrichment Center.

With the coming of Dr. Johnny McKinney in 1993, the church continued its growth. The fifth decade of the life of the church has seen the membership reach 1,338. Notable in these most recent years is the completion of the Christian Activities Center, a facility designed to aid and minister to the church family and the community. The church continues its emphasis on missions with direct hands-on involvement. Many men and women who grew up in the church are in full-time missionary service in distant parts of the world. In recent years, mission teams of church youth and adults have gone to Eastern Europe, Africa, Central America, South America, and throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. There they have extended the evangelism, discipleship, and Christian nurture of this church, a church committed to fulfilling its purpose of “Ministering at the Corner of Boulevard and the World.” Dr. McKinney retired in January 2018, after serving faithfully and well for 25 years.

Boulevard called Dr. Layne Smith in March 2018 as Intentional Interim Pastor to lead the church during the interim period. The church has been celebrating her rich heritage, examining her mission, vision and values, and evaluating lay and staff leadership structures. The congregation also has reaffirmed and solidified Boulevard’s commitment to missions and being the presence of Christ in the Anderson community.

Dr. Smith was very helpful in guiding the church to transition to another pastor after the long pastorate of Dr. McKinney. In June, 2019, the Pastor Search Committee recommended the call of Dr. Austin Carty to be pastor. Dr. Carty began his service in July 2019.