Edgar H. Perry conceived of Highland Park West neighborhood shortly after World War II, his friends telling him "Edgar, are you crazy; no one will ever move out that far."

As houses started to go up, Mr. Perry realized the neighborhood lacked a church, so he offered land above the Highland Park Elementary School to Dr Carlyle Marney of First Baptist Church in Austin.

While plans were being drawn up, the new mission church met first in the Camp Mabry Amory, then in Highland Park Elementary School.

Thomas Pennington, pastor of First Baptist Church of Killeen, was called to be the first pastor. Click here to listen to a service led by Reverend Pennington.

The first worship service was held on April 27, 1952 in the National Guard Armory at Camp Mabry with about a hundred people in attendance for a sermon "Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church."

The National Guard Armory proved a busy place at the height ofthe Korean War, and some Sunday mornings,when the Armory was in use, the church met outdoors on the adjacent rifle range ( when, fortunately, it was not in use).

In 1952, the church relocated to the Highland Park Elementary School with worship services in the school cafeteria. By April 1953, the church had grown to 76 members.

In 1955, Mr. Perry offered a larger tract of land on Parkcrest Drive for the church.

The Riley property lay next to a bait shop and across the street from a beer joint, but proved an ideal location for a new church.

Groundbreaking for the new building was celebrated on February 20, 1955, and on April 1, 1956, the first services were held in the new church sanctuary.

 Sunday School classes were well attended in the mid-1950s, and the church continued to grow under the direction of pastors Rev. John Lee Smith and Rev. William Oliver and a dynamic board of deacons.

By the early 1960s, Highland Park Baptist Church had become home to 268 members, becoming the largest church in northwest Austin.

Rev. Ray Burchette ushered in a new era in 1964, leading Highland Park through 25 years of growth in spiritual and community affairs.

Highland Park Baptist Church became one of the most progressive Baptist churches in Texas, championing social causes, and becoming the first Baptist Church in Texas to ordain women as deacons.

Today, Highland Park is a growing congregation.