Our History

The Church where everybody is somebody--plus a spiritual service.

The Glorious Church of God in Christ continues the great revival which began at Jerusalem A.D. 33 and is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

In 1915, Mother Lula Phillips came to West Virginia triumphing in the beauty of holiness. She began preaching under a large tree in 1916. In the first two years of her mission work, several church leaders were saved. The Lord blessed Mother Phillips to establish three missions for the Triumph Church Kingdom of God in Christ. Bishop E. D. Smith was their general leader.

Later, Mother Phillips went on a missionary journey touring West Virginia where by this time several churches had been established. The churches were in Mount Hope, Glean Jean, Scarbro, Wingrove, Huntington, and Charleston. In 1920, there arose a great controversy within the Triumph Church after the death of Bishop E. D. Smith. The Triumph Church believed saints would never experience death. However, when Bishop Smith died in Africa, the faith of the saints was shaken and some began to scatter.

On April 8, 1921, the members of the Triumph Church in West Virginia met on Stockton Street in Charleston. This special call meeting was initiated by Brother Richard L. Phillips, the husband of Mother Phillips, to organize a new church body. During this meeting the question arose, “What shall the body be called?” Many names were introduced, but the names did not satisfy the saints. Then Sister Julia Robinson, the daughter of Mother Phillips, stood and asked Brother Cleveland H. Stokes to explain the name the Lord had given him for his mission. Brother Stokes then began to share the events of his recent fast and stated that while working in the coal mines the Lord said, “I want a Glorious Church, and I am going to have it.” The Lord gave him Ephesians 5:26-27 and 1 Corinthians 1:2. It was moved and seconded that this body shall be called The Glorious Church of God in Christ. The new name was accepted unanimously by the saints. This newly established body then withdrew its membership from the Triumph Church and Kingdom of God in Christ.

At the time there were no bishops in The Glorious Church of God in Christ; however, there were general leaders, state overseers, and district overseers. Elder Albart Simon was elected presiding elder and Mother Lula Phillips was elected general mother. It was also suggested and supported by the saints that the headquarters of The Glorious Church of God in Christ be located in Huntington.

During this period the church only knew of the baptism of the Holy Ghost as a requirement for salvation. In December 1922, the church became enlightened about the water baptism in the name of Jesus. It was suggested and supported that “as we see the light, we will walk in it to keep the church together.” The church adopted the water baptism in the name of Jesus as a part of the church doctrine and declared the water baptism in the name of Jesus as necessary for salvation.

After the death of Mother Lula Phillips, Mother Mamie Whitehurst was appointed pastor over the church in Huntington. Upon the passing of Presiding Elder Albart Simon, Elder Sidney Coy Bass was appointed general elder over the church organization. In 1944, Elder Sidney C. Bass became the first anointed and consecrated bishop of The Glorious Church of God in Christ, thus becoming the first general bishop.

After a major church controversy arose, The Glorious Church of God in Christ separated into two independent organizations. Determined to preserve the great legacy of Mother Lula Phillips, General Bishop S. C. Bass continued the work of The Glorious Church of God in Christ, Inc. by adding souls and planting churches in the kingdom of God. The headquarters church was established in Roanoke, Virginia; this church was founded and pastored by Mother Julia Robinson, the daughter of General Mother Lula Phillips. When Mother Robinson returned to West Virginia, Bishop G. G. Wilson became pastor; his tenure as pastor was short lived. Bishop S. C. Bass moved to Roanoke, Virginia where he served graciously, impeccably, and faithfully as pastor and general bishop at the headquarters church of The Glorious Church of God in Christ, Inc. until his sudden flight to glory on April 4, 1977. He served as general bishop for 33 years.

During the General Assembly, September 1977, Bishop Wesley Allen Wilson was consecrated to serve as the second general bishop of The Glorious Church of God in Christ. Bishop W. A. Wilson served in that office for one year and subsequently became honorary general bishop during the annual General Assembly September 1978. During the same General Assembly, Bishop Perry Lindsay, Sr. was consecrated to serve as the third general bishop for The Glorious Church of God in Christ. Bishop Perry Lindsay, Sr. served dutifully and honorably in that capacity for 33 years—the same number of years as did his mentor Bishop S. C. Bass. At the August 2011 General Assembly, Bishop Lindsay, Sr. became general bishop emeritus. Also, during the General Assembly 2011, Bishop Perry Leondas Lindsay, Jr. was consecrated to serve as the fourth general bishop of The Glorious Church of God in Christ. However, due to declining health, Bishop Lindsay, Jr. was only able to serve in that capacity for two years before he transitioned to glory on December 31, 2013. After serving as the West Virginia assistant state overseer and West Virginia state overseer for over 20 years, and as junior bishop for two years, Bishop John Henry Grant was consecrated to serve as the fifth general bishop for The Glorious Church of God in Christ during the General Assembly August 2014. After serving a little over three years, in November 2017 Bishop Grant transitioned to glory. The First Vice Bishop, Bishop Azel C. Colston, Jr., was consecrated as the sixth presiding prelate during the General Assembly of The Glorious Churches of God in Christ October 2018.