OUR HISTORY

Restoration True Holiness Temple was founded by its great spiritual leader, the late Honorable Bishop Wilbert S. Simmons on December 7, 1986. This church is an out growth from a former ministry named The Apostolic Faith Church of Christ the Lord Inc. which was established by his parents the Late Elder Leroy and Mother Lucille Simmons in 1950.

In the fall of 1953, Elder Leroy Simmons began to fellowship with Deacon Francis Taylor of Brandywine, Maryland, where the church began to grow rapidly. It was at this juncture that Mother Barbara Simmons and her family was introduced to the way of Holiness while services were conducted at their relatives’ home. Sister Ruth Taylor and Sister May Simmons provided music. After, many families began attending the services, space became limited and services were relocated to the garage. It was during this time that Elder Leroy Simmons began to expound on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and the baptism.

In February 1954, the ministries’ first candidates for baptism included our founder Bishop Wilbert Simmons, Deacon Thomas Gray, Minister Arthur Nicholson, and Deacon Randolph Taylor. A number of converts followed course, including Mother Barbara Simmons on February 25, 1954. Because services
were still being conducted in the home, there was no baptistery; therefore the candidates were taken to the Tried Stone Bibleway Church under the pastoral leadership of the late Bishop Henry Williams. Later in the year, Deacon Taylor and his family discontinued the fellowship and the services were moved to
6111 Floral Park Road to then Brother Thomas Gray’s home. Sunday evening and Thursday night services were held at Brother Gray’s home, while Sunday morning and Tuesday night services remained at the District of Columbia site. It was at this residence that the church began to grow and take its shape. Many new families began to join the ministry, such as the Tolson, Chase, Easton, and Pratt families.

Once this home became too small additional space was sought. It was through Mother Barbara Simmons efforts that new space was obtained through her classmate at Berrens farms. After, obtaining occupancy of this building, many wonderful services were conducted and a number of families were saved. Subsequently to a brief stint at this site, property was purchased in 1957 on Route 373 in Brandywine, Maryland. The first edifice erected was the basement to the church where then Elder Will and Sister Barbara were married in June 20, 1960. The building was never completed due to a proposed highway. However,
a new edifice was built several feet behind the basement and hence the first constructed church edifice for the Apostolic Faith Church of Christ the Lord, Inc.

To the ministry's dismay, in October 1961, Mother Lucille Simmons was called home to be with the Lord. It was during this time that the ministry experienced its second split due to doctrinal differences with the existing board of trustees. Elder Leroy Simmons elected to return to his D.C. ministry and in 1961, appointed Elder Wilbert Simmons as pastor over the Maryland church. In 1969, due to the number of saints attending services that lived in the Calvert, Anne Arundel, and St. Mary’s Counties; a new edifice was erected on Mt. Harmony Road in Calvert County, Maryland. An additional ed6ifice was built in Millsboro, Delaware two years later because of Bishop Simmons’ extensive travel on the Eastern Shore and in Delaware.

The Apostolic Faith Church of Jesus Christ the Lord, Inc. experienced rapid growth in membership, the music ministry and several other ministries. In 1976, Bishop Wilbert Simmons began fellowshipping with a ministry in South Carolina. It was through this fellowship that Bishop Wilbert Simmons began to witness and be led to seek a building in Dillon, South Carolina. After traveling and imparting the word of the Lord throughout the continental United States, the ministry suffered another major set back on December 5, 1986. Bishop Simmons due to doctrinal differences with the trustee board was directed by court proceedings to vacate the Brandywine church pending a hearing. Bishop Simmons elected not to return to court, but proceeded to gather his family and left the Apostolic Faith Church of Jesus Christ the Lord, Inc.

On Sunday December 7, 1986, Restoration Temple was founded and Bishop Wilbert Simmons began holding services in his home with his family and Minister Linwood Jones and his family. On October 11, 1990, Restoration met at the Knights of Columcille Hall located at 1633 Tucker Road in Fort Washington, Maryland where services were held at this location for six years. In December 1990, Restoration Temple was fellowshipped with the Church of God and True Holiness, under the leadership of Apostle Albert E. Dixon, Sr.

In September 1991, Bishop Wilbert Simmons was consecrated as the 5th District Bishop for the Churches of God and True Holiness. In 1996 the ministry moved again to the White Hall Square Community Center for approximately one year
and then returned to the Knights of Columcille Hall. On December 27, 1997 Restoration True Holiness Temple purchased the current property located at
6909 and 6913 Livingston Road in Oxon Hill, Maryland. In June 1998, Apostle Albert E. Dixon, Presiding Prelate of the Church of God and True Holiness, dedicated the church and its properties. After securing the property, “Go up
at once and possess the land” our battle cry for several years, we were finally settled. On July 7, 1999, the Lord chose to call Bishop Simmons to rest from
his faithful labor.

In June 2000, Minister Stephan Simmons was ordained as an Elder and set to lead the Restoration True Holiness Temple Family into the new millennium.