Bethany Baptist Church (Newark, New Jersey) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bethany Baptist Church
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 Location in Essex County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | 275 W. Market Street, Newark, New Jersey |
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| Area | 0.2 acres (0.081 ha) |
| Built | 1866 |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 88000466 |
| Added to NRHP | May 10, 1989 |
Bethany Baptist Church is a very old and important church located in Newark, New Jersey. It stands at 275 W. Market Street in Essex County. This church has a rich history, especially for the African American community in New Jersey.
A Church with Deep Roots
The story of Bethany Baptist Church began in 1870. A group of African Americans started the church on Broad Street in Newark. They met in the building of another church, Peddie Memorial Baptist Church.
Reverend Ebenezer Bird came from Virginia to lead this new group. There were about 26 members at first. In June 1871, the Council of Baptist Churches officially recognized them as a church.
Bethany Baptist Church is proud to be the "first Baptist congregation founded by people of African descent." This means it was the first Baptist church started by Black people in that area.
The Church Buildings
The original church building was built in 1866. It was designed in the Romanesque style. This style often uses round arches and strong, solid walls.
Because of its history and architecture, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. This list includes important historical sites across the United States.
Over time, the church needed a new home. The old building was replaced by a housing complex. Then, a new church building was constructed at 275 W. Market Street. This new building was officially opened on May 2, 1976.
From 2000 to 2015, Reverend M. William Howard, Jr. served as the church's pastor.
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The new Bethany Baptist Church building.
See also
