Rev. John W. Thompson

Photo from Home Directory of the Colored People of Chester, 1906 compiled by Lawrence L. Barrett & C. I. Wilson. The photographs in the book were taken by Mr. H. E. Williams, 210 E Broad St., Chester.

Rev. John W. Thompson, the pastor of [Temple Baptist] church, is struggling hard to raise sufficient money to give Naomi Temple a thorough remodeling during the coming summer, and to purchase a lot for a church so as to give Naomi Temple over entirely to institutional work.

The subject of this sketch was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, about 35 years ago. He attended school at his home and was considered exceptionally bright. He left his home and went to Montclair, New Jersey, when he was about 19 years of age. Having joined the church in Virginia and served as an active worker in church, Sunday School and Literary Societies, his services were at once sought in Montclair where he soon distinguished himself as a leader among the younger people. He went to New York where he entered night school, to prepare himself for college and the profession of law, which at that time he had selected as his chosen occupation. While in that city he felt a divine call to the ministry for which he immediately commenced preparing. He left New York in the summer of 1891 and did missionary work in Chester and Montgomery counties, this State. Here his qualities as an evangelist were plainly manifested, for great spiritual awakenings attended his ministry. He was called in 1892 to the pastorate of the Macedonia Baptist Church, Paschal, in Philadelphia, where the church more than doubled its membership within the first year. In June of this year he was examined for ordination in West Chester where he passed successfully and was ordained. In the fall of 1893 he was called to Chester to succeed the late Rev. W. R. Burrill [Calvary Baptist Church]. This pastorate was a very successful one, and lasted seven years and seven months. Since that time he has been with the Temple Baptist Church in this city. He was not content to be a minister of with an ordinary education, and since residing in Chester, and ever since he has been pastor of the Temple Baptist Church, he has been diligently applying himself to studies. He has attended Lincoln University and graduated In the Class of 1904 with the degree of A. B. He will graduate next year from the seminary with the degree of A. M. and L.T.B. He then expects to carry out his cherished thoughts of conducting a large institutional church, trade school and female seminary.

[Obituary]