Set in the Weatherly neighborhood of southeast Huntsville, just off Weatherly Road between Memorial Parkway and Bailey Cove Road, Weatherly Heights Baptist Church has spent more than six decades describing itself in the same three-word refrain: boldly inclusive, faithfully thinking, and progressively Baptist. Tucked behind the Southeast YMCA and across from Weatherly Elementary, the congregation at 1306 Cannstatt Drive has grown from a small mission gathering on Weatherly Mountain into one of the most distinctive Baptist communities in north Alabama, with a traditional sanctuary service, a sanctuary filled with stained glass, a sizeable English-as-a-Second-Language program, an intergenerational Messy Church, and a chancel choir that sings most Sundays of the year.
Visitors are met at the door with a printed worship guide, a cup of coffee or tea, and a reminder from a Deacon that at Weatherly they strive to be a place where everyone, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or background, is welcomed and invited to bring their whole self to church.
From Weatherly Mountain to Cannstatt Drive
Weatherly Heights Baptist Church was founded in 1963 during Huntsville's rapid post-Space Race growth. It began as a mission of an established local church, meeting in the home of Burt and Janet Carpenter atop Weatherly Mountain. From those early gatherings, the congregation quickly outgrew the Carpenter living room and built a chapel and sanctuary on Weatherly Road, the same campus it still occupies today.
Throughout its history Weatherly has been defined by a progressive spirit and a commitment to inclusion. It was among the first Baptist churches in Alabama to ordain women as clergy and deacons. It established an English as a Secondary Language program to serve Huntsville's growing migrant population. In more recent years it has welcomed Ukrainian refugees, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and others who have struggled to find a spiritual home elsewhere. The Prayer Shawl Ministry has been quietly knitting and praying since 2004, sending more than 600 handmade shawls across the country and around the world to people in difficult seasons.
In 2024, the church called Reverend Valerie Burton as its senior pastor. Burton, a Nashville native and graduate of Belmont University and the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, brought a vision of creating spaces of belonging where everyone can bring their whole self into the life of the church, grounded in contemplative practice, curiosity, flexibility, and creativity.
Sunday Mornings: Sunday School at Nine, Worship at Ten-Ten
Sunday is the center of life at Weatherly. Sunday School begins at 9:00 a.m., with classes for every age, from nursery through senior adults. Worship follows at 10:10 a.m. in the sanctuary. The service is also livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel for those at home or out of town.
The atmosphere inside the sanctuary is described by the congregation as traditional yet warm and inviting. Stained glass windows surround the worship space, letting in a rich flow of light. Hymns and choral anthems from the Chancel Choir fill the room, while clergy, laity, and guest voices share in leading the service. Ministers wear robes and stoles that change with the season of the church calendar - green for Ordinary Time, white for festal seasons - and a printed worship guide walks visitors through each element so there are no surprises.
Children are always welcome in worship. Worship resources and children's bulletins are available to help them follow along. A nursery and Children's Church are provided for babies through first grade during the service, and children are invited forward for a Sermon on the Steps before being released to Children's Church. Families who prefer to stay together are encouraged to do so; bringing quiet activities or books into the worship space is perfectly acceptable.
What Visitors Will Notice Right Away
The Welcome from one of the Deacons at the start of worship typically includes the line, "At Weatherly, we are boldly inclusive, faithfully thinking, and progressively Baptist," as a way of setting the tone for the morning. Visitors are not asked to be anyone other than themselves.
What to wear is up to the individual. On any given Sunday you will see slacks and button-down shirts, dresses, jeans and blouses. Dressy or casual attire are both appropriate and welcomed.
Parking is available from either the Cannstatt Drive or Dortmund Drive entrances. Visitors can park behind the church off Cannstatt or Dortmund and enter through the double doors under the breezeway into the education wing, or park in the front of the church or across the street at Weatherly Elementary and enter through the narthex into the sanctuary. Handicap parking spaces and wheelchair accessibility are available at the front of the building, and an elevator inside provides access to the second floor. Personal hearing amplifiers are available for those who need assistance during worship.
The Sanctuary, the Stained Glass, and the Liturgical Year
Worship at Weatherly follows the rhythms of the Christian liturgical year, with banners and clergy stoles shifting colors as the seasons turn - green for Ordinary Time signaling a season of spiritual growth, white for the great festivals of Christmas and Easter, purple for Advent and Lent. The church traces its worship style back to the historic Baptist traditions: believers' baptism by immersion ("being dunked," as the congregation cheerfully puts it, though baptisms of other kinds are welcomed and accepted), the priesthood of every believer, the autonomy of the local church, and religious freedom understood as the separation of church and state.
That same historic grounding shows up in seasonal services such as the Lovefeast services the church has celebrated for decades. The music draws on a rich choral and liturgical tradition. Instrumental ensembles and guest musicians are woven in throughout the year, particularly during holidays and festival Sundays. A team of volunteers helps prepare the sanctuary with meaningful visuals and decorations during Advent and Lent, and the pastor has introduced new ways of using the altar table as a central part of the worship experience.
Messy Church: Faith for Every Age
Once a season, the sanctuary and gathering spaces give way to something different: Messy Church, an intergenerational gathering where toddlers, parents, and senior adults share the same room. Each session begins with a time of welcome and then opens six to eight stations of crafts and activities for everyone to enjoy. After about an hour of hands-on exploring, the group gathers for a short celebration with a story and songs, and the evening closes with a shared meal. Recent themes have included "Teach Us To Pray," and the gathering is billed as a beloved space for fellowship, creativity, and community, all centered around God's love.
Music and Arts
Music is central to how Weatherly worships and marks the seasons of the church year.
- Chancel Choir leads worship most Sundays, offering traditional choral music that brings depth and beauty to the service. It is the anchor of the music ministry.
- Children's Choir meets for two six-week sessions, one in the fall and one in the spring, sharing musical offerings in worship around Advent and Easter.
- Handbell Choir rehearses and plays for shorter seasons, typically around special services.
- Instrumental ensembles and guest musicians are brought in throughout the year, especially during holidays and festival Sundays.
- Seasonal Arts and Worship uses banners, paraments, and altar arrangements to mark Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter.
- Children's Productions blend music, storytelling, and the themes of the church calendar.
Children and Youth
Children's ministry at Weatherly is built around the words, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs." Sunday School classes for every age meet at 9:00 a.m., using Shine curriculum to help children learn about God's love and how to show kindness to others. Throughout the month, families with children gather for lunches, water games on the grounds, and the first-Friday Brew Crew, a casual drop-in at a local business where kids are always part of the fun.
Children's Choir rehearses after worship for two six-week stretches each year, sharing musical specials during Advent and Easter. All volunteers with children are required to complete a background check and child protection training through the church's Protect My Ministry program.
Youth ministry meets at 9:00 a.m. on Sundays in the Lighthouse, the church's separate gym and activity building, with a combined class for sixth through twelfth graders, light refreshments and hot cocoa, and lessons based on Illustrated Ministry materials that follow the liturgical calendar. During the school semester, the group also gathers on Wednesday mornings at 7:30 a.m. near Grissom High School for Donuts and Discipleship - coffee, fellowship, and scripture memory with Dwell resources. Each summer the youth travel to Unidiversity Summer Camp during the second week of July for a week of faith, fun, and friendship.
Adults: Eleven Sunday School Classes and Counting
Sunday School is the heart of adult formation at Weatherly, with nine weekly classes meeting at 9:00 a.m.:
- Agape uses Nurturing Faith curriculum from Good Faith Media and follows the lectionary for in-depth exploration of scripture.
- Alethia is a senior adult class engaging with lectionary-based resources and a variety of teachers.
- Breakfast Fellowship combines a light breakfast and coffee with group discussions of faith and life; current participants range from their thirties to their sixties.
- Foundations is designed for college students and early-career adults exploring life topics through the lens of faith.
- Hallway to Heaven is a special studies class focusing on books of the Bible with practical life applications, using Kerygma Literature.
- Travelers is a young adult class (post-high-school, single or married) with a social justice theme.
- Live and Learn studies scripture and topics of interest in an open-discussion format welcoming all ages.
- Progressive Perspectives is discussion-driven, examining scripture and historical church documents and encouraging critical thinking.
- Seekers is a welcoming space for senior women to reflect on life experiences and share faith stories.
- Contemplative Practices draws on many faith traditions with shared silence, spiritual readings, prayer, and reflection.
Beyond Sunday School, Discovery Hour groups form in the fall and spring and meet in person and online for four to six weeks, led by congregation members or ministerial staff. The first Tuesday of every month at 1:00 p.m., a Senior Adult Book Club meets for thoughtful discussion and community. The Brew Crew gathers at a local business on the first Friday of most months from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. - no agenda, just good conversation over coffee, dinner, or drinks.
Pickleball has quietly become one of the most popular ways to show up at the Lighthouse gym. Women's Pickleball meets Wednesday mornings at 8:30 and Friday mornings at 9:00, and Pickleball for Everyone meets Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00. Paddles and indoor balls are provided, and beginners are welcome.
English as a Second Language
The ESL program at Weatherly is one of the largest ministries of the church and one of the clearest expressions of its progressive, neighbor-loving identity. Citizenship and ESL classes are offered in person and on Zoom every week.
Wednesday morning classes run from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the church, with no registration required. Levels include Introduction A and B, Books 1 through 4, Reading and Conversation at intermediate and advanced levels, Vocabulary and Pronunciation, and a U.S. Citizenship class. Teachers and classroom numbers are listed on the church's ESL page so newcomers can find the right room.
A Wednesday evening in-person ESL class meets at 6:00 p.m., and a full schedule of online classes runs throughout the week on Zoom: Intermediate Grammar on Monday at 10:00 a.m., two Conversation sections on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m., U.S. Citizenship on Monday at 7:00 p.m., and Reading with Bob by appointment. Registration is required for the Zoom classes. All classes are free.
Loving the Neighbor: Prayer Shawls, Backpack Meals, and a Hug at Pride Fest
Outreach and advocacy at Weatherly take many forms, some long-standing and some evolving.
The Prayer Shawl Ministry has been part of the church since 2004, producing more than 600 shawls given to people in difficult seasons or at meaningful moments. The shawls have traveled across the country and around the world.
Twice a year, the Deacon Council leads a churchwide Backpack Meals effort for students at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School over Spring and Fall Break. Each bag includes nine days of breakfast, lunch, and snacks to support families when school meals are not available. Volunteers gather in the Lighthouse to pack the bags.
Women on Mission meets monthly during the school year for fellowship and outreach, ranging from Christmas gifts for foster children and seniors to grief care bags and practical donations for people in transition.
The church has also taken part in advocacy events beyond its walls, including hosting Sara Cunningham of Free Mom Hugs and Kelly Mellen of Making Things Right for a Friday night of pizza, advocacy discussions, and Pride Fest poster-making before joining the festival at Campus 805.
Care and Support
The Deacon Council, the pastoral staff, and the Congregational Support team care for the congregation together. Deacons visit those who are hospitalized or homebound and help celebrate important life events. The Congregational Support team sends notes and cards to homebound members and to those who are grieving. Pastoral staff regularly visit anyone in the community who is in the hospital, and visits can be arranged by calling the church office.
Wednesday Evenings and Other Rhythms
Adults gather on Wednesday evenings for fellowship with bring-your-own brown bag suppers at 5:30 p.m. Bible study series led by the pastor follow at 6:00 p.m., encouraging honest questions, comments, and lively discussion. Child care is provided.
Throughout the year the church also hosts seasonal workshops, such as the recent "A Plan for Peace of Mind" workshop on end-of-life preparation, and a long-running tradition of Lovefeast services during Advent. Other recurring rhythms include the monthly Senior Adult Book Club, the seasonal Oktoberfest Senior Adult Luncheon, and Discovery Hour short courses.
The Howard Williams Speaker Series
Each year the Howard Williams Speaker Series brings thoughtful voices in theology and ethics to Huntsville. Past speakers have included Frank Tupper, Fisher Humphreys, Molly Marshall, and Thomas Oord. A recent series featured Dr. David Gushee, Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University and Chair in Christian Social Ethics at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, addressing LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church, Christian nationalism, and the moral formation of Christian communities in the way of Jesus.
A Legacy Table for the Future
The Legacy Table Endowment Fund is a permanent fund created to ensure that Weatherly's ministries of welcome, education, and service continue long into the future. Gifts to the fund are invested through the Cooperative Baptist Foundation, with earnings providing ongoing support for the church's ministries while the principal continues to grow. The Carpenter's Guild is the recognition circle for donors, with Founding Members being anyone who gives any amount during the fund's first year (2026) and Ongoing Members being anyone who gives $5,000 or more in any future year. Planned gifts and estate gifts are encouraged.
Pastors and Staff
Reverend Valerie Burton serves as Senior Pastor. A Nashville native, she holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Belmont University and a Master of Divinity from the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. Before Weatherly she experienced what she describes as a burning-bush call to a new and holy ground. She and her husband Allan have two sons, and in her free time she enjoys reading, walking with friends, walking the family's miniature dachshund Roscoe, learning to play golf, camping, traveling, and cooking.
Reverend Madison Watts serves as Associate Pastor for Families. Originally from Las Vegas, she earned her Associate's Degree in General Studies, majored in Marriage and Family Life Education at the University of Central Oklahoma, and completed her Master of Divinity at George W. Truett Theological Seminary in Waco, Texas, in December 2019. Madison is married to Drew and her ministry includes children, youth, and family life across the church.
Gary Sims serves as pianist and Aleta Hunt serves as organist for worship.
Membership and Beliefs
Weatherly Heights is a progressive Baptist community rooted in historic Baptist traditions. It is affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Baptist World Alliance. The congregation interprets the Bible through the lens of Jesus's life and teachings as shown in the Gospels and affirms the historic Baptist distinctives of the priesthood of every believer, the autonomy of the local church, believers' baptism by immersion, and religious freedom. The church celebrates the worth, gifts, and talents of every person and affirms women in all leadership roles. It also embraces the LGBTQIA+ community and welcomes people of all races, nationalities, and backgrounds.
Members join through profession of faith and baptism, by letter of transfer from another Baptist church, or by statement of prior Christian experience and baptism. Anyone interested in membership can share that desire with a member of the ministerial staff, who will invite them to a conversation to get to know one another and the church better.
The church's vision statement describes Weatherly as an inclusive, discovering fellowship that exists under the lordship of Jesus Christ to worship God with reverence while expressing warmth and joy; to educate its people by blending heartfelt biblical faith with intellectual integrity; to practice personal evangelism and social justice; to champion Baptist distinctives while embracing inter-Christian and interfaith dialogue; and to genuinely care for one another as children of God.
Planning a Visit
The church office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and can be reached at (256) 881-6882 or whbcexternal@weatherly.org. Sunday Worship is at 10:10 a.m. The building sits off Weatherly Road between Memorial Parkway and Bailey Cove Road, directly behind the Southeast YMCA and across from Weatherly Elementary. Parking is available off Cannstatt Drive or Dortmund Drive. Visitors are warmly welcomed, the dress code is whatever feels comfortable, and the words at the door every Sunday make the church's welcome explicit: at Weatherly, all are truly welcome.