First Baptist Church (1895) South Orange, NJ

Founded in 1895, First Baptist Church of South Orange, New Jersey, was initially the vision of 35 “believers in Christ” who called themselves the “Prayer Band.”  They convened regularly at the residence of Mack Jackson, one of their most passionate members.  Within a reasonably short period of time, the congregation grew considerably and the group had to relocate. Their new site was at the “Old Women’s Christian Temperance Union Home.”  In time, they were again faced with the challenge of finding a new venue to house their growing numbers of ardent supporters.  After relocating to a house on First Street in South Orange in 1898, the group, at the suggestion of Sister Sarah Bynum, named themselves the First Baptist Church of South Orange.

In 1906, Reverend Bolden, then pastor, began raising the necessary funds to construct the First Baptist Church of South Orange where it is now housed at Second and Valley streets.  J. Morgan, a local Black businessman, deeded the property to the church for one dollar, and Reverend Bolden secured the first $25 necessary to purchase the church’s cornerstone.  Under the leadership of Reverend James Colby, the church’s mortgage was liquidated with the assistance of a Mr. Kisney, a member of the South Orange Methodist Church. Today, the church serves more 400 members.

SOURCE: FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH