First Baptist Church of Salem, New Jersey
Baptist activity in the Salem, New Jersey area
dates back to the 1680s, with meetings taking place in private homes until
about 1716. After a hiatus of about 20 years (due to the deaths of some
Baptist lay leaders), home meetings were resumed about 1741. In the interim
Baptists in this area had to travel to Cohansey, NJ in order to attend
services.
All the Baptists in the area held their
membership there. Due to several factors, including growth of the
congregation and the distance from Cohansey, the small group sought and
received permission to build their own meeting house. One of the members
donated a one-quarter acre plot of land for a building and graveyard near a
local tide mill. In 1743 a meeting house was constructed, with a balcony on
three sides. That building, being 22 feet by 30 1/2 feet would fit in the
current sanctuary. Thus the "Mill Hollow Mission" was begun.
In 1754 the mission appealed to the mother church for permission to form an
independent congregation. The Cohansey church consented. At a meeting on May
17, 1755 the church formed as the members all signed the church covenant.
"The Anti-Peado Baptist Church of Salem and Alloway's Creek" was then
officially founded. They were the first Baptist church in Salem county and
the eighth in New Jersey. Over time the building became too small, and the
local population was developing closer to the Salem river than anticipated.
New facilities were needed.
In 1786 one and a half acres were purchased in Salem on Yorke Street. The
second house of worship was complete by 1790. The church officially
incorporated in 1786 as, "The Trustees of the Antipedo." While the
church still possesses a copy of that incorporation, the State of New Jersey
lost theirs, requiring us to re-incorporate in 1844. During this time the
congregation started three other churches, one each in Canton, Woodstown,
and Alloway.
By 1840 there was already a number of people who wanted the church to meet
closer to the center of Salem City and the river. In 1845 a new lot was
purchased for $2,500 and construction was begun. The third meeting house
(shown above) was dedicated on December 12, 1846. Construction costs
were $8,529.26. This is our current house of worship. In 1859 the
congregation applied to the state legislature for a supplement to the
charter changing the name of the church to the First Baptist Church of
Salem. Approval was received in 1860.
Two final notes of interest. While the congregation voted to move to the new
building a small, but resolute, group remained at the Yorke St. meeting
house. There was a court fight, which the dissenters lost, and they formed
the Second Baptist Church of Salem. That congregation dissolved shortly, and
the Yorke St. building was demolished. The other issue has to do with the
clock in the tower. During this time the citizens of the city decided they
wanted a town clock. It was decided that the clock should be put in the
tower of the new church. Thus, to this day, the tower and the clock that sit
atop the meeting house are city property.
