Fountain Baptist Church (1897) Summit, NJ

The history of Fountain Baptist Church began more than 100 years ago when six domestic workers met to form a Christian Endeavor Society Prayer and Bible study group for African Americans in Summit, New Jersey. This initial meeting, held at 59 Summit Avenue on Friday evening, July 9, 1897, was called by Violet A. Johnson, Annie Tucker, and Wilson Burrel. Within six months, the Bible study group had found a spiritual leader, Reverend Walter Spruill, and moved to a rented room on the corner of Morris and Chestnut avenues. The room was furnished by James Bell, Joseph Adams, Wesley Worthington, Benjamin Davis and Violet A. Johnson.  Johnson paid the first month’s rent.

Under Rev. Spruill’s leadership, the prayer group formed a mission, a place “where all Christians regardless of denomination might gather and worship.” Each was encouraged to become a member of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Newark, New Jersey. Shortly thereafter, the small band moved into a rented room at Park (Broad Street) and Chestnut Avenue, “the most densely populated and built up part of Summit.” It was here that Fountain Baptist Church, the first African-American church in Summit, was born on June 16, 1898.

Within the first few months, the members organized a building fund to purchase a permanent church home. Six months after becoming a full-fledged church, the congregation moved once again, this time to larger quarters at 493 Springfield Avenue.  Fountain would remain at this location for approximately eight years.

In 1906 under the leadership of Rev. Edward N. McDaniels, the fifth pastor, Fountain was incorporated and purchased land at 21 Chestnut Avenue.  Although erection of a church edifice was begun, the congregation could only afford to complete the basement. On Christmas Eve, 1908, the congregation entered its basement home constructed at a cost of $3,700.  The site, enhanced “with all modern improvements,” was worth over $6,000 and carried a $2,000 mortgage.

The vision of the founders that July evening in 1897, continues to unfold as Fountain uses its witness to transform lives, minister to the poor and brokenhearted, and to expand the sense of community with the Gospel message of hope and change.

SOURCE: FOUNTAIN BAPTIST CHURCH