BETHANY BAPTIST CHURCH

OUR HISTORY

 

Bethany Baptist Church of Brooklyn

Historical Highlights

 

Introduction

 

To give a history Bethany Baptist Church which is fully authoritative, and comprehensive, one must soar to another world, and confer with those pioneers who have gone on to the New Jerusalem. They wrought well, and built a firm foundation for a church which has surpassed their fondest dreams. Their interest was not as much in stone and structure, but as in a place to worship God. Bethany’s history is a narrative of the Triune God at work among His people. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Colony of Heaven was founded and established. We are reminded of the saying “Great trees from little acorns grow.” Bethany Baptist Church can surely qualify as a Great Tree at this time, as we who are the limbs and branches and leaves and acorns of this great tree, bow humbly as we pay our respect to our predecessors. Many of the facts are unknown to us, because some early records were destroyed by fire, and without written records it is impossible to obtain all of the facts; however, we can safely say that the information given is actually a part of Bethany’s history.

 

Faithfully upholding the cross and testimony of Jesus Christ despite harsh circumstances, countless trials and tribulations, Bethany, as she stands today, is demonstrative of the power of answered prayer. It is the “Place of Weeping” for those who seek the Kingdom and His Righteousness. Therefore, the story of the Bethany Baptist Church is chronicled in the following lines as an humble tribute to His Majesty, His Power, and His Eternal Glory.

 

Let all who read these lines know that it is God who has worked, and is still working in us to do His good will and pleasure.

 

1883 – 1886

 

1883 – Bethany Baptist Church had her modest and unassuming beginning in the Autumn of 1883 with a prayer meeting led by the Reverend Joseph Bacon, with his wife and five friends in attendance, at the Bacon home at 794 Atlantic Avenue in downtown Brooklyn. Persons in the organization, in addition to Reverend Bacon, were Mrs. Charlotte Bacon, Mrs. Mary Loach, Mrs. Eugenia Nichols, Mrs. Martha Jackson, Mr. John E. Jackson, and Mr. Fred Rivers.

 

1884 – After outgrowing Reverend Bacon’s home, the group moved to Cumberland and Fulton Streets, over Wescott’s Express Office, and took the name of “The Messiah Mission”.

 

1885 – The name was changed to “Second Baptist Church of Brooklyn”.

 

1886 – Moved to Waverly and Atlantic Avenues under the leadership of Reverend McCoy; however, the Church moved back to the Cumberland Street hall soon thereafter, and Reverend McCoy was not allowed to remain. Reverend Bacon invited Reverend John E. Gaines, a noted evangelist of Petersburg, Virginia and a contemporary of John J. Jasper, to preach. Reverend Gaines stirred things up in Brooklyn; however, being an evangelist and having a calling, he could not remain.

 

1887 – Several councils were called for the purpose of having this body of believers recognized as an independent church. These were all defeated until the Reverend Kelsey, Pastor of the Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, Brooklyn, with other leading White ministers from the Long Island Baptist Association, set apart and formally organized the church as the Bethany Baptist Church of Brooklyn on January 27, 1887, despite prevailing protests. Rev. Kelsey was voted as “Father of Bethany,” and he with his church assisted in many ways. The Reverend Ebenezer Byrd became the Pastor of the newly organized church, and served from January to June 1887.

 

In June 1887, the Reverend Reuben I. Gaines of Richmond, Virginia was called as Pastor. Under Reverend Gaines, the Church affiliated with the Baptist Extension Society, the Long Island Baptist Association and the New England Baptist Missionary Convention. Reverend Gaines organized the Sunday School, the Baptist Young People’s Union (B.Y.P.U), and other auxiliaries.

 

1895 – On April 26, 1895, the church was incorporated. The Charter bears the following names: Reverend Reuben I. Gaines, Chairman; James Thomas Hamlin, Secretary; John E. Jackson, Charles Gross, Henry Taylor, William E. Gayles, and Joshua P. Lee, Trustees. Reverend Gaines served the church for fourteen (14) years and resigned July 4, 1901. During this period, two houses were purchased, located at 643 and 645 Dean Street.

 

1898 – The first floor of 643 Dean Street was used for Bethany’s Institute. The Church moved to 541 Vanderbilt Avenue at the corner of Atlantic Avenue.

 

1901 – Reverend Gaines resigned on July 4. On September 12, 1901, Reverend J. Francis Blair of White Plains, New York was called as pastor.

 

1902 – 1915

 

1902 – Reverend Blair was installed as Pastor on January 2, and continued the work of his predecessor. Reverend Blair served until his death in December 1907.

 

1905 – In January, the Duryea Presbyterian Church located at the corner of Clermont and Atlantic Avenues was purchased for a sum of $16,000.

 

1908 – Reverend H. Holland Powell of Virginia Seminary, Lynchburg, Virginia was called as Pastor on May 15, 1908.

 

1911 – The church property was mortgaged for $12,000 for a complete renovation. Cornerstone was laid on Sunday, September 17, 1911.

 

1912 – Church was dedicated in December.

 

1915 – Reverend Powell resigned as Pastor.

 

1915 – 1943

 

1915 – On April 1, 1915 Reverend Kimball Logan Warren assumed his duties as Pastor after a successful ministry at Union Baptist Church, Hartford, Connecticut. When Reverend Warren arrived, there were only 196 members.

 

1921 – A debt of $15,000 was paid off and a public mortgage burning was held on April 28.

 

1923 – Property was sold to Schrader & Son and in May, the Trinity Baptist Church, located on the corner of Sumner Avenue and Decatur Street was purchased at a cost of $100,000, a momentous happening indeed. On May 10, 1923 a cash payment of $37,500 was made.

 

1924 – On Sunday, May 18, 1924 upon entering the new church home, a month-long celebration through June 15, 1924 began. Bethany was the first Black Church to move into the Stuyvesant area, and therefore paid the price of pioneering. Auxiliaries and Clubs in existence included the Willing Workers, the Missionary Society, the Pastor’s Aid, the Sunshine Club, Brotherhood, and the Floral Club. There were also twenty-five Sections in addition to the official Boards, Sunday School, B.Y.P.U., Choir, and Ushers.

 

1927 – The short-lived Bethany Beacon, a weekly Church Bulletin, was born. Various clubs were organized, including the Sisterhood, the Utility Club, the Hedge and Highway Society (Foreign Missions), the Lydia Missionary Circle (Home Missions), Boy and Girl Scouts, as well as the Olympians, a club composed of Bethany members, although not an auxiliary.

 

1943 – On February 14, 1943 concluding all but two months of twenty-eight years of service, Reverend Warren was called Home to rest. There were over 1000 members on the Church Roll at the time of his death. A bronze plaque was made by Richard Barthe, dedicated to his memory, and placed on the front wall of the main auditorium of the Church. A club, the Kimball Logan Warren Circle, was organized to perpetuate his memory. The Trustees, lead by Mr. Jenkins Venable, who had been on the board for more than twenty years, worked to reduce the mortgage debt. Mr. Paul White, Chairman of the Deacon Board, served as Lay-Chairman of the Church, and helped greatly during this time.

 

1944 – 1961

 

1944 – In November, Reverend Doctor Thomas Jefferson Goodall, Pastor of Antioch Baptist Church, Houston, Texas became the eighth Pastor of Bethany by unanimous call. Dr. Goodall has previously pastured the First African Baptist Church (the Mother Church of Baptists in the USA) in Savannah, GA; the Second Baptist Church in Philadelphia, PA; and Antioch Baptist Church. Although obligations prevented Rev. Goodall from moving in 1944, he preached sermons on the 3rd and 4th Sundays of November.

 

1945 – Dr. Goodall arrived permanently in the Spring. During nine months of 1945, 232 persons united with the Church of which 30 were baptized. A new parsonage was purchased at 23 Revere Place. Three apartment buildings were purchased.

 

1960 – The Church was cleared of debt, and a 77th Anniversary and Mortgage Burning Celebration was held from May 29 through June 6, 1960.

 

1961 – Reverend Goodall died on April 26, 1961 after sixteen years of dedicated service, leaving a legacy of wise enterprise and strong stewardship. Dr. Goodall was one of the denomination’s outstanding preachers and educators, having been in demand as a lecturer in many schools and colleges across the country. On June 25, 1961, the Reverend Henry W. Mariner was elected Interim Pastor, and served with great distinction.

 

1962 – 2005

 

1962 – On June 26, 1962, a unanimous call was extended to the Reverend William Augustus Jones, Jr., the twenty-eight year-old Pastor of First Baptist Church (Pascall), in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A native of Lexington, Kentucky, Rev. Jones officially assumed his duties as Pastor of Bethany on September 16, 1962, the 3rd Sunday in September. On October 18, 1962 the Pastor and Officers of the Church recommended the rebuilding of the Church at a cost of $1,250,000. A Building Committee was named with Cain Young as the Chairperson.

 

1963 – The first Scholarship Breakfast was held, honoring Bethany’s High School Graduates, and providing scholarships for college. In 1975, this became the Scholarship Banquet.