USA > New York > New York City > A history of the churches, of all denominations, in the city of New York, from the first settlement to the year 1846 > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16
-
251
BAPTIST CHURCH.
under the ministry of Mr. Chase, to nearly eighty members. But after he left they had no other pastor, and shortly the church was scattered, and became extinct.
The house of worship was leased to the Fourth Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, in 1832, and sold to the same church in 1838. They now occupy it.
Mr. Chase, not long after his dismission, adopted different views, on the subject of baptism, and united with the Presbytery of New York, but the state of his health did not allow him to engage again in the min- istry. He is now the American Consul at Cape Town, South Africa.
NORTH BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church was organized with fourteen members, in the year 1823, and it was sup- plied for a time by the Rev. John Gibbs. They met for worship in Greenwich village, · and were at that time the most northerly of any Baptist Church in the city. In 1828, the church obtained as a pastor the Rev. Jacob H. Brouner, who had been pastor of a Bap- tist Church, at Mount Pleasant. The con- gregation suffered some for want of a con-
252
BAPTIST CHURCH.
venient house of worship, but this however was attained in the year 1831, by the erec- tion of a commodious building, measuring 64 feet by 50, standing at the corner of Bedford and Christopher streets. The build- ing was commenced in the previous year, but it advanced slowly, and when the church commenced to hold meetings in the house, in the early part of 1831, it was "neither ceiled nor pewed." However they have now a good house, and a considerably nu- merous congregation. The seats in their house are free. More than three hundred are in connection with the church. Mr. Brouner is still their minister.
CANNON STREET BAPTIST CHUCRH.
In the year 1827, there was formed in New York, a small Baptist Church of twenty- five members, called the " Mission Church," having for their minister, the Rev. John C. Murphy. They occupied as a place of worship a building called " The Mission House," on Broome street, between Can- non and Lewis streets. Mr. Murphy con- tined with them about two years, and the church struggled along, though with dimi-
253
BAPTIST CHURCH.
nished numbers, under the ministry of Rev. William Curtis, for a year or two longer. While these things were going on in the year 1829, another small church of fifteen members was formed, which met for worship in a hall, in the Iron works, on Rivington street, and removed from thence to a hall on Grand street. This was called " The East Baptist church," and the Rev. John Middle- ton was their minister. Considerable suc- cess attended his labors, and efforts were put forth to obtain a house of worship, which at one time seemed about to be realized. But after nearly five years no house was built. Mr. Middleton left, and the church was dwindling away.
In 1833, in view of the state of the " Mission Church," then just expiring, an effort was made to get up a new interest, and another church was formed of thirty- eight members, part of which were dismissed at that time from the Oliver Street Church, and a part were the fragments that remained of the " Mission Church." This was called " The Broome Street Church." Of this church the Rev. John Mitchell became pas- tor, and remained a little over a year, when
22*
254
BAPTIST CHURCH.
he was succeeded by the Rev. Israel Robords, and he by the Rev. John Blain. Yet after considerable accessions, so that at one time they numbered over two hundred in communion, and in one year reporting a revival that brought in at least one hundred by profession, still the church was in a feeble and scattering condition. Such was the state of this church towards the close of the year 1838. At this time a union was effected between the " East Baptist Church" and the " Broome Street Church," though all the members in both churches did not come in. There were reported one hundred and sixty- seven members in the "East Church" in June, 1838, and one hundred and fifty-four members in the "Broome Street Church" and yet, in June, 1839, when they were reported as one church, under the name of the " East Broome Street Church," they re- ported but two hundred and forty-four mem- bers, and had received twenty-five of this number by profession after the union, leaving more than one hundred members unac- counted for.
The new church (" East Broome Street") .occupied the " Mission House," on Broome
255
BAPTIST CHURCH.
street, between Cannon and Lewis streets, with Rev. Zelotes Grenell as their pastor,- an active, consistent, and devoted minister. In the course of the next year ground was purchased on which.to erect a church edifice, situated on Cannon street, near Broome street, and under the favor of Him, whose is the silver and gold, and the cattle upon a thousand hills, the building was carried for- ward; and on March 4th, 1841, the house was opened for public worship, and the church was thenceforth called the " Cannon Street Church." The labors of Mr. Grenell were signally blessed, so that up to June, 1842, more than four hundred persons had been enrolled in communion. But during that year he resigned the pastoral office in this church, and was succeeded by the Rev. Henry Davis, the present pastor. The favor of the Lord has still been vouchsafed, so that there is now found assembling at Cannon street a numerous congregation, with nearly seven hundred members in communion ; and, under the charge of a very efficient superintendent, there is one of the largest and most interesting Sabbath schools in the city.
256
BAPTIST CHURCH.
ELIZABETH STREET CHURCH.
In the year 1824, the Rev. Amasa Smith, who had then recently resigned the pastoral office in the Beriah Church, commenced preaching in a schoolroom on Elizabeth street, near Bleecker,-a place then well known as the " Bethel Free School-House." After about two years a church was formed · called the " Elizabeth Street Church," and was admitted to the Hudson River Associa- tion in August, 1827, with twenty-four mem- bers, and the Rev. William G. Miller as pas- tor. For three years the church was in suc- cessful operation, so that in August, 1830, they reported one hundred and three mem- bers in communion. This is the last account of the Elizabeth Street Church as such, and their name is thenceforth dropped from the minutes. In the following year, however, Mr. Miller appeared in the New York Asso- ciation as pastor of the Bethel Church, in opposition to the Rev. Johnson Chase. An account of this difficulty has been sketched on a previous page.
257
-
BAPTIST CHURCH.
LAURENS STREET CHURCH.
The Baptist Church in Laurens street was gathered by the labors of the Rev. William Thompson, and regularly constituted in 1828. A place of worship was prepared in a con- venient upper room, and here the church re- mains. Mr. Thompson left after a few years, and was succeeded by the Rev. Luke Barker, M. D. Dr. Barker remains pastor of the church. The congregation is small,-the church containing seventy-seven members.
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES. .
Such is the style adopted by a small band who came. out from the Laurens Street Church about the year 1835. The matters of difference, which led to the separation, were some matters relating to form and dis- cipline, and not any difference in doctrine. For some time they worshipped in " Concert Hall," where about thirty persons were con- stituted as a church. In 1937 they built a small house of worship in the rear of No. 80 Greene street, where they continue to mect. - Their present number in communion is about one hundred and forty. Elders E.
258
BAPTIST CHURCH.
Parmly and John Hassel are ministers. The church is strictly independent.
EMMAUS CHURCH.
Some time previous to the year 1830, Mr. Jonathan Cossington, a Baptist preacher, opened a meeting in a hall on Christie street, and after about a year he was succeeded by Elder Benjamin Pitcher, who organized a Baptist Church of a few members, calling it the " Emmaus Church." It was not in con- nection with any other in the city. Mr. Pitcher continued preaching here three or four years, when, in the spring of 1836, he became pastor of the Salem Baptist Church, in King street, and the Emmaus Church broke up, and went with him.
AMITY STREET CHURCH.
In 1832 a colony of forty-four members was dismissed from the Oliver Street Church, to be constituted as a distinct body. They met for worship in the Broadway Hall, near Grand street, under the ministry of Mr. William R. Williams, a licentiate of the Oli- ver Street Church, who subsequently be- came pastor. The parent church granted
259
BAPTIST CHURCH.
them a lot of ground on the Baptist burying- ground in Amity street, and here a house of worship was erected and opened in May, 1834. Here they have quietly remained, with no great revolutions to mark their history. Rev. Dr. Williams is still pastor, with a flourishing church and congregation · around him.
ZION CHURCH.
This is a Baptist Church of colored people, and it was constituted with thirty- three members in the year 1932. They used as a place of worship, a hall on Spring street, between Varick and Hudson street, and afterwards removed to Duane street. For several years the church had no stated pastor, and was supplied by various preach- ers, colored or white, as they could be ob- tained. The Rev. J. T. Raymond, Rev. J. W. Gibbs, and the Rev. N. H. Whiting, were among those who officiated in the ministry with this church, which had in- creased considerably, so that in 1840 they numbered nearly two hundred in commu- nion. Toward the close of the previous year the congregation hired a house of
1
260
BAPTIST CHURCH.
worship, standing in the rear of No. 48S Pearl street, to which they removed, and where they still remain. In the summer of 1840, the Rev. D. Scott took the pastoral charge, but resigned it again in about a year. Again the people were left destitute for more than a year, but in the early part of 1843 the Rev. Stephen Dutton of Buffalo, a respect- able colored preacher, was obtained as stated pastor of the church, and remains to the present time. Much success has crowned the efforts of this people. They have a large congregation, and enrol in communion four hundred and forty-six members.
BOWERY, OR CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH. In March, 1833, Mr. Octavius Winslow, a licentiate of the Oliver Street Church, commenced preaching in the " Military . Hall," on the Bowery, and soon after a church of twenty members was organized. After remaining for about a year in this place, they removed to the " Broadway Hall," then just vacated by the Amity Street Church, who had removed to their new meeting-house. At this time the name of the church was changed to that of the " Cen- tral Church, and a moderate degree of pros-
1
261
BAPTIST CHURCH.
perity seemed to attend them. In the early part of 1836, the Rev. Mr. Winslow, who had been ordained as pastor, resigned the charge, and removed to the Second Baptist Church in Brooklyn. He was soon suc- ceeded by the Rev. William H. Card, and the congregation removed from Broadway to a hired building on Fourth street, near the East River. The state of religious feeling in the church was encouraging for a while, and their numbers increased. But a reverse succeeded. In about a year they felt con- strained to relinquish their place of worship, and part with their minister. The members of the church met together for prayer for a short season, and then scattered to other churches.
WELSH BAPTIST CHURCH. 1
The Welsh Church was a colony from the North Beriah Church, consisting original- ly of sixty members, and they were consti- tuted as a distinct church in the year 1833. They occupied for several years a Hall at 183 Canal street, thence they removed to 43 Elizabeth street, where they remained two years, and in 1844, they succeeded in the
23
262
BAPTIST CHURCH.
erection of a small brick building on Chris- tie street, below Delancy, which they call the " Welsh Tabernacle." Here they re- main. The first minister who supplied this church was the Rev. William Thomas, who remained a year or two, and was succeeded by the Rev. William Harris, in 1836, who held the pastoral office four years, resigning his charge in 1840. The church was then very weak, and it was with difficulty they kept on; but in the following year their spirits were somewhat revived by the arrival of the Rev. David Phillips from Wales, who labored with them for a year or more. After Mr. Phillips left, the church was sup- plied by Rev. M. I. Williams. In 1844, the present pastor of the church, the Rev. Theophilus Jones, commenced his labors. The church is small and feeble, but com- pared with former days, more encouraging.
SIXTEENTH STREET CHURCH.
The origin of this church is interesting. A pious man living in the neighbourhood of Sixteenth street, near the North river, made an effort to collect a Sabbath School in that part of the city. Such had been his
------
263
BAPTIST CHURCH.
privations in early life, that he had never learnt to read ; but he was a Christian man, and could pray, and having engaged some young persons to come in and teach the classes, he took the superintendence of the school, until he could procure some one whom he judged better qualified than himself to take his place. In connection with this school, prayer meetings were soon held, and after that occasional preaching was enjoyed. These means, feeble as they were, excited considerable interest, and led to the organi- zation of a church of eighteen members, on Oct. 8,1833. On the 21st of the same month, the Rev. David Bernard commenced preach- ing to this church in a small wooden build- ing on the south side of Eighteenth street, a little east of the Eighth avenue. That building is still standing in the rear of some brick houses. Mr. Bernard labored with this church for three years, and was suc- ceeded by the Rev. James L. Hodge, who became pastor Jan. 24, 1838. Mr. Hodge remained only until the following Novem- ber.
In the year succeeding, their present large and commodious house of worship was
264
BAPTIST CHURCH.
built at a cost of but little short of $20,000, including the ground on which it stands. The present pastor of the church, the Rev. Alonzo Wheelock, accepted their call in July, 1840. They have been greatly bless- ed. The congregation is large ; the church has increased to six hundred and thirty-three. members; and the Sabbath School, from. which the whole thing sprang, and which commenced with eleven children, now num- bers more than six hundred.
BLOOMINGDALE BAPTIST CHURCH.
This is a branch of the Sixteenth street Church, and is located on the corner of Forty-third street and Eighth avenue. Seve- ral members of the Sixteenth Street Church resided in that neighborhood, and in the summer of 1812, a Sabbath School was es- tablished. At the same time preaching was maintained by the city mission, and on Feb. 21, 1843, a church of twenty-four members was organized, and the Rev. J. H. Card, who had been the missionary there, became the pastor. During that year a meeting house was built. It is a neat frame build- ing, measuring 40 feet by 60. Mr. Card
BAPTIST CHURCH. - 265
remained pastor until 1845, when he was succeeded by Mr. Spencer, the present pas- tor; ninety-two members are reported in -communion.
SALEM BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church was constituted in October 1834, and consisted of thirty-seven mem- bers, who withdrew from the North Beriah Church at that time, connecting themselves with the Warwick Association. The first place of worship they occupied was a school-room in Smith street, where they re- mained about a year and a half, supplied for most of the time by Elder Loomis. After this, a house of worship was built on King street near Hudson, at a cost of about $6,000, and the church removed there, with Elder Benjamin Pitcher for their minister, for about two years. He was succeeded by the Rev. John Y. Felty, and he by Elder James C. Goble. In the autumn of 1843, Elder William Curtis became pastor of this church, and resigned the charge in June, 1815. At this time the congregation had become weakened, and the church was re- duced to about 40 members, and being des- 23*
266
BAPTIST CHURCH.
·
titute of a stated pastor, they leased their house of worship to a society of Wesleyan Methodists, occupying the lecture room themselves, and holding prayer meetings at private houses. This is their present state,
WEST BAPTIST CHURCH.
This was a colony of eighty-eight mem- bers from the Mulberry street Church, who, believing they could be more useful, sepa- rated from the church in perfect harmony, and were constituted a distinct band in the year 1835. They, however, remained with- out a pastor for nearly two years; but near the beginning of 1837, the Rev. John Dow- ling took the pastoral charge of this church,
Ahouse of worship, situated in Duane street, near Chatham, which had been occupied by a Universalist Society, was hired and oc- cupied by the West Church. Their num- ber in communion was then one hundred and thirty-six, and in the following year a farther increase was reported ; but from some cause or other, they thought it best to disband, and did so in 1S33, most of the members joining the Tabernacle
--
267
BAPTIST CHURCH.
1
Church, and their name was dropped from the minutes without remark.
BEREAN BAPTIST . CHURCH.
The Berean Church was a colony of sixty members dismissed from the North Beriah Church, in the year 183S, of which the Rev. Aaron Perkins became pastor. They first met for worship in King street, but in 1841, a very substantial brick edifice was erected, at the corner of Bedford and Downing streets, measuring 80 feet by 60, at a cost of about
$20,000. It is capable of seating twelve hundred persons. It is a large and flourish- ing congregation, and more than four hun- dred members are enrolled in communion. The Rev. John Dowling is the present pastor, having succeeded Mr. Perkins in 1844.
SIXTH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church was organized in April, 1840, with one hundred and fifty-six members, who were dismissed for this purpose from that portion of the Bethel Church which had been under the pastorship of the Rev. William G.
268
BAPTIST CHURCH.
Miller, and was now about to disband. Of this new church, the Rev. John O. Choules became pastor. Previously to the dismission of Mr. Miller they had purchased a house of worship in Sixth street, near the Bow- . ery, for $14,000, which had been built and occupied by St. Timothy's Church (Epis- copal), and which was about to be sold under foreclosure of mortgage. Here this church commenced operations, under very encou- raging circumstances. The location of the church was thought, however, to be on some accounts rather unfavorable ; and in the early part of 1843, they sold the building to an Episcopal Society (the Church of the Re- demption), paid all their debts, and had a balance on hand, intending to build on some better location, and the church and congregation removed temporarily to the hall of the " Stuyvesant Institute," on Broad- way. But various discouragements occurred, and in the spring of 1814, Mr. Choules re- signed the charge; and in the summer of 1845, the few members that remained, took their dismissions to other bodies, and this church became extinct.
269
BAPTIST CHURCH.
PARTICULAR BAPTIST CHURCH.
On the first Sabbath in January, 1841, a meeting was commenced in a hall near the corner of Catharine and Cherry streets, by the Rev. Job Plant, a Baptist minister from England, then recently arrived in the city. He continued preacher at this place for about a year, in the course of which a church was formed, consisting of from twenty to thirty members, but uriconnected with any other Baptist Church in the city, styling themselves " Particular Baptists." In the following year the congregation removed to a hall on Grand street, and after a term of time, removed again to a small house of worship on Eliza- beth street, between Walker and Hester streets. The congregation was never large, and the communicants probably never ex- ceeded forty. About midsummer in 1844, Mr. Plant left, and the church, which was then reduced to about twenty members, was scattered and became extinct.
BAPTIST SEAMEN'S BETHEL.
This church was formed for the special advantage of seamen, in the year 1843.
270
BAPTIST CHURCH.
Twenty-three members were at first enrol- led. They have not yet obtained a house of worship, but occupy a hall on Catharine street, near Cherry street. The church has increased to more than sixty members. The Rev. I. R. Steward is pastor.
MOUNT ZION BAPTIST CHURCH.
On July 16th, 1843, a Baptist Church un- der the above title was constituted, consist- ing of sixteen members, most of whom were dismissed from the Bethesda Baptist Church. They procured as a place of worship the lecture room of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, on the corner of Prince and Marion streets, where they have remained to the present time. Elder James C. Goble was unanimously called as their stated pastor. The church has increased to about fifty members, but the congregation is not large.
FOURTH STREET .BAPTIST CHURCH.
The origin of this church is thus stated in the minutes of the Association : " A few members of the Norfolk Street Church, with the unqualified approbation of the church of
1
.+4
271
BAPTIST CHURCH.
which they were members, procured a place of worship on Fourth street, near the East river, with the view of forming a new interest. After deliberate consideration, and earnest prayer, forty-seven brethren and sisters were publicly recognized as the "Fourth Street Baptist Church." This took place May 11th, 1843. The Rev. John Cookson be- came their pastor, but he was succeeded in the next year by the Rev. L. Covell, who re- signed the charge in the summer of 1845. The church has increased to more than one hundred and thirty members, though as yet they have no house of worship which they can call their own. Rev. J. T. Seely is the present minister.
ELEVENTH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church was formed with a small number of members, in March, 1843. The Rev. S. Corey soon became pastor, and is still with them. In the course of that year their house of worship was built. It is a neat brick edifice, standing on Eleventh street, between the Third and Fourth ave- nues. The church has been prospered in
272
1 spiritual things, having received, by profes- 1 BAPTIST CHURCH.
sion, eighty-four persons in two years. 1
HARLEM BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church was organized in October, 1844. It is a small band of twenty-six mem- bers, but they have as yet neither house of worship nor pastor.
PROVIDENCE BAPTIST CHURCH.
On November 27th, 1815, a church by this name was organized, who met for some months in a hall in the lower part of Canal street. Ninety-three members were enrolled, all being dismissed from the Beriah Church in McDougal street. The Rev. S. C. James · supplied their pulpit for some time, but in the spring of 1846, the Rev. J. J. Braine, who had been pastor of a Congregational Church in the city, became pastor of this church, and continues in that office: The congregation now occupy a hall at the corner of Hudson and Grove streets, with an increasing as- sembly.
------
-
1
273
BAPTIST CHURCH.
CHRISTIAN BAPTIST CHURCH. -
· After the breaking up of the Particular Baptist Church, as related on a previous page, a few of the members continued to hold prayer meetings, and after nearly a year spent in this way, in July, 1845, four per- sons covenanted together as a church, taking no other name than that of a Christian Bap- tist Church. They occupy the building in Elizabeth street, occupied before by the Particular Baptists. Mr. Edmund Thorn- ton is the officiating minister.
DATES OF THE BAPTIST CHURCHES NOW EXISTING IN NEW YORK CITY, WITH THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS IN EACH, AS RE- PORTED IN 1845.
Date
Mem.
First Church, .
1762
586
Bethel Church (under Mr. Chase),
1770
50
Oliver Street Church,
1791
633
Scotch Baptist Church,
1805
30
Abyssinian Church,
1809
451
North Beriah Church,
1809
300
South Church, .
1822
458
Stanton Street Church,
1823
579
Ebenezer Church,
1825
107
North Church,
1827
314
Laurens Street Church,
1828
77
Zion Church,
1832
446
Amity Street Church,
1832
254
Welsh Church,
1833
68
24
,
274 BAPTIST CHURCH.
Sixteenth Street Church,
1833
626
Salem Baptist Church,
1834
40
Church of the Disciples,
1835
130
Berean Church, .
1838 411
Cannon Street Church,
1838
670
Tabernacle Baptist Church,
1839
801
Bethesda Church, 1841
88
Norfolk Street Church,
.1841
695
Laight Street Church,
1842
298
Bloomingdale Church,
1843
92
Seamen's Bethel Church,
1843
65
Fourth Street Church,.
1843
139
Eleventh Street Church,
1843
163
Mount Zion Baptist Church,
.1843
50
Harlem Baptist Church,
1844
26
Providence Church,
1845
93
Christian Church (Elizabeth street),
1845
4
Churches 31
Members 8,744
LIST OF CHURCHES ONCE FORMED AND NOW EXTINCT.
Formed.
Dissolv.
Baptist Arminian Church,
1724
1732
Welsh Church, .
.1807
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.