Second Baptist Church (1885), Asbury Park, NJ

In 1885, a group of Blacks who had been worshipping at the First Baptist Church of Asbury Park, New Jersey (located on the southwest corner of Main Street Ave., decided they wanted their own place of worship. The pastor of First Baptist, Reverend Frank C. Colby, and the officers were duly informed.  With their blessings, those Blacks of kindred spirit ceased to attend First Baptist and proceeded to organize a mission.

Their first worship services were held in a rented Salvation Army building located on East Springwood Avenue (Lake Avenue). Reverend R.A. Bolden of Newark, New Jersey, was selected as the first pastor. The membership began to increase and a larger meeting place was rented — the upper story of a building on the North West corner of Springwood Avenue (Lake Avenue) – the site of the old West Side Drug Store. On September 20, 1891, the church elected its first trustees, S.P. Slover. S. Shortt, J. Riley, Sr., William H. Clark, J. Barber, H. Ward and B. Smith.  On October 2, 1891 the Second Baptist Church received its Certificate of Incorporation. The rented worship site continued to be used until October 25, 1901, when a one-story used furniture store (which previously had been offered and used for a short period for worship purposes) and vacant plot of land (the present site of the Second Baptist Church and original parsonage) were purchased.  Reverend J.C. Price, who succeeded Reverend Bolden as pastor, helped the church take initial steps to transport the purchased building to its present site on Atkins Avenue, renovate it extensively and beautify the grounds.

SOURCE: SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH