Western Baptist Bible College

The Western Baptist Bible College, established in 1889, is recognized as the oldest institute of Christian based religious learning west of the Mississippi established exclusively by African-Americans. In 1927 the school moved from Macon, Mo., to Kansas City after purchasing the Gillis Orphans’ Home and the Margaret Klock Armour Home for Aged Couples (now demolished) from the Women’s Christian Association.

After the children were moved to new facilities, Western College began to use the orphanage and the home for the aged as their new campus. Western was forced to close its doors during the school year 1935-36 due to the Great Depression, but after reorganization, the school was reopened in August 1937 as Western Seminary.

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