Oak City Baptist Church had its beginning in 1865, in meetings held in various homes in Raleigh’s historic Method Community. The community, was first called “Slave Rent,” then called “Slab Town,” and later “Masonville,”after Lewis Mason bought 69 acres of the mostly wooded area from a Confederate army general named William Ruffin Cox. It was finally renamed “Method,” after a post office was established in the area. The church and community were formed after the Emancipation when former slaves built their own homes in this area that is bounded by Western Boulevard and Hillsborough Streets, just west of North Carolina State University.

In 1873, Oak City Baptist Church was organized and built in a grove of small oak trees, not very far from its present location today. It got its name either because of those oak trees, or from the nickname of the City of Raleigh, “The City of Oaks.”Those responsible for the creation of the church included: Gilford Branch, Ausborn Branch, Lafayette Ligon and Wash Ligon, among others. On October 8, 1886 Trustees of Oak City Baptist Church (Ransom Thompson, Guilford Branch, and Blake Kittle) were able to purchase the ½ acre parcel of land in Masonville, Wake County, North Carolina.

Oak City Baptist Church has had 17 pastors during its more than 157-year history, with the shortest term of office being 11 months and the longest term being that of our current Pastor, 34 years. Oak City’s first pastor was the Reverend Caesar Johnson. Reverend Johnson was a member of one of the first graduating classes ofShaw University and one of the founding members of the Roanoke MissionaryBaptist Association of North Carolina. In addition to Reverend Johnson, other notable pastors during the early years of our church included Reverends Mabry, Jack Poole, and Robert “Bob” Jones.

Oak City Baptist Church has a present membership of over 400. Its members are actively involved in several community outreach programs through the Missionary Ministry, Men’s& Women’s Ministries, Ushers, Young Adult Ministry and Youth Ministry. Oak City is impacting the local community through participation in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, the Crop Walk, the American Diabetes Association Walk, Vacation Bible School, Wake County Interfaith Food Shuttle, Thanksgiving and Christmas Baskets for the needy, Project Angel Tree, Wake County Foster Care Faith Collaborative, Passage Homes, and Habitat for Humanity.

The present pastor is Reverend Dr. William T. Newkirk, Sr., who hails from Rocky Point NC, is in his 36th year. The church currently has several associate ministers to support the mission and vision of the church. On July 5, 2015 the members of Oak City Baptist Church moved into their new sanctuary at 726 Method Road, Raleigh, North Carolina and they formally dedicated this new edifice on October 25, 2015. At Oak City, we strive to keep “Standing on His Promises” winning souls for the Lord! Oak City & guests, we celebrate your legacy today. Happy church Anniversary & Homecoming.