Church Founding
In 1947, Bishop Noah Calhoun, of Brooklyn, New York appointed Reverend Carrie Taylor as Pastor and Founder of Holy Tabernacle ("hereafter referred to as the Church"), which was a participating church in the Fire Baptized Movement. At that time, the Church was located at 8237 Tinicum Avenue in the Tinicum section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Church Relocation and Growth
In 1961 Philadelphia's Airport Redevelopment Project began renovating the Tinicum housing area. As a result, the Church relocated to 6050 Osage Avenue in southwest Philadelphia, holding services on its third floor (referred to as the "Upper Room"). In 1963, through the vision and direction of Pastor Taylor, the Church refurbished and expanded to the lower floors of the building at 425-427 South 61st Street. Shortly thereafter the Church was independently chartered and renamed Taylor Tabernacle, Inc. in honor of its dedicated Pastor, Dr. Carrie Taylor and her husband, Deacon Roy Taylor. At its new location, the Church prospered; souls were saved and healed, and demonic spirits were cast out of possessed persons. Those that walked in the Church lame walked out free of ailments or restraints. To memorialize these miraculous events they left behind their crutches and canes as a visual testimony of their healing.

Leadership Succession
As part of the Church's succession plan, Reverend Lucille Ford was appointed and installed as Pastor of Taylor Tabernacle in the spring of 1994. Under Pastor Ford's dynamic and compassionate leadership, the Church's membership increased dramatically. From this growth came men dedicated to the ministry of the gospel. In February of 1999, Darryl Scott, Ronald Radcliff and Jonathan Ford were ordained as Ministers in the Church. In August of 1999, John Cureton, Todd McCoy and Norman Lyons were ordained as Deacons in the Church. Today, this ministry team supports Pastor Ford and serves the growing membership of Taylor Tabernacle.

Church Ministries
Through Pastor Ford's vision of the "21st Century Church", Taylor Tabernacle has launched several new programs focused on ministering the "whole gospel to develop whole people." These programs include the Church's Turning the TIDE computer technology center. Turning the TIDE provides computer education classes for the community children, adults and senior citizens. Additionally, the Church's weeklong Vacation Bible School continues to be the neighborhood summer highlight event of the year. Drawing over 100 local neighborhood children, the excitement of the innovative Vacation Bible School curriculum has also led to annual increases in the Church's Sunday School program. Children in the Sunday School program participate in a curriculum that includes traditional Christian education, computer education, academic support and tutoring, and tours of Philadelphia's historical sites and museums.

In addition to providing a vision for enhanced educational programs, Pastor Lucille Ford initiated the Church's Women's Fellowship program. The Women's Fellowship program has been a phenomenal success in providing a forum for Christian women of all ages and backgrounds to gather together, share life experiences, and learn from one another.

In order to equip its members and community with financial knowledge and savvy, the Church initiated its Life Development Series. The Life Development Series provides basic and advanced financial planning seminars that focus on the effective use of money management, debt management, investment portfolio development, and career development.

One of the newest Church developments is the Celeste Williams Scholarship Fund, launched in the spring of 2000. The Celeste Williams Scholarship is awarded to young students that excel academically and pursue higher education. In its inaugural year, the Celeste Williams Scholarship Fund provided approximately \$1,000 in academic scholarships.

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