Rev. Mattie Ophelia Favors Cooper, the youngest of 21 children, at the age of 18 informed her father that the Lord had called her to preach and despite opposition to a “woman preacher”, she was active in her missionary work. She traveled the East Coast as an evangelist and spiritual and gospel singer. In 1925 Rev. Cooper was ordained the first black woman Baptist minister in the State of New York.  In 1945, she visited Beacon, NY and shortly thereafter she and her husband and her family moved to Beacon and started a started a storefront church, leased from Mr. Horton.

In one year, she found the building she wanted and purchased it, the Old Gas House on Beekman Street. The congregation was incorporated in 1946, two years after being organized as a mission and she named it the Springfield Baptist Church, in honor of her first church in Athens, Georgia. She opened a daycare center, a community playground and planned programs throughout the year for youths. She lived and exemplified the Word of God in her everyday life. She spread the “Good News” everywhere telling people about Jesus and baptizing them in the Hudson River.  In 1970 she went on a holy mission around the world to Tokyo, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Africa, Tel Aviv and other areas. She crossed the Jordan River, viewed the hills of Golgotha, visited the Pope and walked on the place called “Holy Ground.” After her return her dream was for a new church. In 1972, Urban Renewal purchased the Old Church building and land. Mother’s Day, May 14, 1972, the Springfield Baptist congregation marched from 16 Beekman Street to 8 Church Street, Sunday, May 14, 1972, with a full contingent of worshipers and well-wishers. To God be the Glory!

Our present Pastor, Rev. Dr. Ronald O. Perry Sr. was installed as the third pastor of Springfield Baptist Church in July 1991. The spirit of God is ever present. His vision is Springfield become a Bible based church.  Our Mission: Win the lost and empower believers to be fully functional followers of Christ. To God be the Glory!

The present worship house is one of two oldest standing houses of worship in the City of Beacon, NY. This church building was purchased by Springfield Baptist Church in 1972 from the United Methodist Church of Beacon, NY, and the block was dedicated as Mattie Cooper Square in 1989.