Utah civil rights legend France Davis marks 43 years as Calvary's pastor

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

The Rev. France A. Davis smiles as he and his wife Willene Davis watch dancers as Davis celebrates his 43rd anniversary at a special Anniversary Service at Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake City Sunday April 23, 2017. Davis arrived in Salt Lake City in 1974 and has had uninterrupted service as the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church since his appointment. Calvary congregation serves more than 700 members.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Children dance as The Rev. France A. Davis of Calvary Baptist Church celebrates his 43rd anniversary during a special Anniversary Service at the Salt Lake City church Sunday April 23, 2017.Davis arrived in Salt Lake City in 1974 and has had uninterrupted service as the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church since his appointment. Calvary congregation serves more than 700 members.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

People stand for a prior as The Rev. France A. Davis of Calvary Baptist Church celebrates his 43rd anniversary during a special Anniversary Service at the Salt Lake City church Sunday April 23, 2017.Davis arrived in Salt Lake City in 1974 and has had uninterrupted service as the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church since his appointment. Calvary congregation serves more than 700 members.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Shauna Robertson of the Cavalry Babitst Choir stands and sings as The Rev. France A. Davis of Calvary Baptist Church celebrates his 43rd anniversary during a special Anniversary Service at the Salt Lake City church Sunday April 23, 2017. Davis arrived in Salt Lake City in 1974 and has had uninterrupted service as the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church since his appointment. Calvary congregation serves more than 700 members.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Choir members sing as The Rev. France A. Davis of Calvary Baptist Church celebrates his 43rd anniversary during a special Anniversary Service at the Salt Lake City church Sunday April 23, 2017. Davis arrived in Salt Lake City in 1974 and has had uninterrupted service as the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church since his appointment. Calvary congregation serves more than 700 members.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

The choir stands and sings as The Rev. France A. Davis of Calvary Baptist Church celebrates his 43rd anniversary during a special Anniversary Service at the Salt Lake City church Sunday April 23, 2017. Davis arrived in Salt Lake City in 1974 and has had uninterrupted service as the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church since his appointment. Calvary congregation serves more than 700 members.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

People stand and sing asThe Rev. France A. Davis of Calvary Baptist Church celebrates his 43rd anniversary during a special Anniversary Service at the Salt Lake City church Sunday April 23, 2017. Davis arrived in Salt Lake City in 1974 and has had uninterrupted service as the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church since his appointment. Calvary congregation serves more than 700 members.

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Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune The Rev. France A. Davis smiles as he and his wife Willene Davis watch dancers as Davis celebrates his 43rd anniversary at a special Anniversary Service at Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake City Sunday April 23, 2017. Davis arrived in Salt Lake City in 1974 and has had uninterrupted service as the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church since his appointment. Calvary congregation serves more than 700 members. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Children dance as The Rev. France A. Davis of Calvary Baptist Church celebrates his 43rd anniversary during a special Anniversary Service at the Salt Lake City church Sunday April 23, 2017.Davis arrived in Salt Lake City in 1974 and has had uninterrupted service as the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church since his appointment. Calvary congregation serves more than 700 members. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune The Rev. France A. Davis smiles as he and his wife Willene Davis watch dancers as Davis celebrates his 43rd anniversary at a special Anniversary Service at Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake City Sunday April 23, 2017. Davis arrived in Salt Lake City in 1974 and has had uninterrupted service as the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church since his appointment. Calvary congregation serves more than 700 members. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune People stand for a prior as The Rev. France A. Davis of Calvary Baptist Church celebrates his 43rd anniversary during a special Anniversary Service at the Salt Lake City church Sunday April 23, 2017.Davis arrived in Salt Lake City in 1974 and has had uninterrupted service as the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church since his appointment. Calvary congregation serves more than 700 members. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Shauna Robertson of the Cavalry Babitst Choir stands and sings as The Rev. France A. Davis of Calvary Baptist Church celebrates his 43rd anniversary during a special Anniversary Service at the Salt Lake City church Sunday April 23, 2017. Davis arrived in Salt Lake City in 1974 and has had uninterrupted service as the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church since his appointment. Calvary congregation serves more than 700 members. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Choir members sing as The Rev. France A. Davis of Calvary Baptist Church celebrates his 43rd anniversary during a special Anniversary Service at the Salt Lake City church Sunday April 23, 2017. Davis arrived in Salt Lake City in 1974 and has had uninterrupted service as the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church since his appointment. Calvary congregation serves more than 700 members. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune The choir stands and sings as The Rev. France A. Davis of Calvary Baptist Church celebrates his 43rd anniversary during a special Anniversary Service at the Salt Lake City church Sunday April 23, 2017. Davis arrived in Salt Lake City in 1974 and has had uninterrupted service as the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church since his appointment. Calvary congregation serves more than 700 members. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune People stand and sing asThe Rev. France A. Davis of Calvary Baptist Church celebrates his 43rd anniversary during a special Anniversary Service at the Salt Lake City church Sunday April 23, 2017. Davis arrived in Salt Lake City in 1974 and has had uninterrupted service as the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church since his appointment. Calvary congregation serves more than 700 members. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune The Rev. France A. Davis smiles as he and his wife Willene Davis watch dancers as Davis celebrates his 43rd anniversary at a special Anniversary Service at Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake City Sunday April 23, 2017. Davis arrived in Salt Lake City in 1974 and has had uninterrupted service as the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church since his appointment. Calvary congregation serves more than 700 members.

The Salt Lake Tribune

· April 24, 2017 3:19 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

In the early 1970s, the Rev. France Davis arrived in Utah.

He never left.

Since 1974, he has led Salt Lake City's Calvary Baptist Church.

On Sunday, his congregation celebrated his 43 years of uninterrupted service as their pastor with preaching and praying, singing and speaking.

A special guest sermon was delivered by the Rev. Harold O. Fields, pastor of Salt Lake City's Unity Baptist Church.

A civil rights legend, Davis had marched from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., to push for voting rights in the 1960s and had met the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

In the Beehive State, the soft-spoken Davis has been a leading voice for justice, equality and other causes.