Calvary Baptist Church (Manhattan) facts for kids
Calvary Baptist Church is an Independent Baptist church located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is found at 123 West 57th Street, close to Carnegie Hall. As of 2022, the church is using a temporary location. Its original building at 123 West 57th Street is being taken down to make way for a new one.
Contents
History of Calvary Baptist Church
Early Beginnings and Locations
Calvary Baptist Church started in 1847. Its first church building was completed in 1854 at 50 West 23rd Street. Later, the church moved to its well-known spot at 123 West 57th Street. A beautiful red sandstone Gothic church was built there between 1883 and 1884.
A Church on the Radio
In 1923, Calvary Baptist Church became one of the first churches to have its own radio station. This started a long tradition of sharing religious messages through broadcasts. The church still produces a weekly radio show called "Tell It From Calvary." You can hear it on WMCA radio.
The Skyscraper Church
The building at 123 West 57th Street was special. It was one of the first "skyscraper" churches in a city. This means it was a tall, 16-story building. It also included the Hotel Salisbury, which was an apartment hotel. Plans for this unique building began in 1929, and it was officially opened in 1931.
Famous pianist Van Cliburn gave two Steinway grand pianos to the church. He sometimes attended services while he lived in the hotel.
Famous Visitors and Preachers
Many important people have visited Calvary Baptist Church. Former presidents Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton have attended services there. Well-known preachers like Billy Graham and Billy Sunday have also given sermons from its pulpit.
New Chapter for the Church
In early 2020, both Calvary Baptist Church and the Salisbury Hotel closed. The old Gothic building was planned to be taken down. A new office building would be built in its place, with space for the church. There was a delay because of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City. Demolition of the old building began in 2022. While the new building is being constructed, the church meets every Sunday. They gather at the Manhattan campus of Hunter College and also hold services online.
Senior Pastors of Calvary Baptist Church
Over the years, many leaders have guided Calvary Baptist Church. Here are some of the notable senior pastors:
- Robert Stuart MacArthur (1870-1911): He led the church for a very long time.
- John Roach Straton (1918-1929): During his time, Calvary was known for its strong beliefs. He worked to make society better based on his understanding of the Bible.
- Will H. Houghton (1930-1934): He left Calvary to become the president of the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.
- William Ward Ayer (1936-1949): He was a popular preacher and radio broadcaster. A survey once called him Manhattan's "third-most influential citizen."
- Stephen F. Olford (1959-1973): He worked to end prejudice at the church. Under his leadership, the church became desegregated, meaning people of all races could attend together. Today, the church values its diverse community.
- David Paul Epstein (1997–2018)
- Abraham Joseph (2022 - present)
