MT. ZION BAPTIST CHURCH (1888), SALEM, NJ
In 1888, George Kelsic Sr., called to his home Edward Brooks, Taswel Harris, George Curry and Griffin Garnet to discuss organizing a Baptist church in Salem, New Jersey. A few months later, these former Virginians with a vision called Reverend Strand of Virginia to come and pastor a small group of dedicated Christians. He agreed and Mt. Zion was born.

The early church was held in what was known as the "Old Pickle House" located on Howell Street. The church grew rapidly in a dozen years under the leadership of Reverends Strand, Holstead, "Cyelone" Robinson, (so called for his fiery sermons and his uncanny predictions of things to come) and R.D. Johnson. Reverend I.M. Holly, D.D., the church’s fifth pastor, served from 1900 to 1952.

The church was moved from the "Pickle House" to Rumsey Hall, at Broadway and Seventh streets in 1900. Worship services were held there until the new church was built on Union Street. The cornerstone was laid in 1912. In 1878, the Mt. Pisgah AME congregation erected this fine brick church in Salem. Mt. Pisgah is one of he earliest congregations in the state, organized in 1800. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It draws on a rich legacy of southern New Jersey architecture, which is in turn derived from the Georgian traditions of Philadelphia. Gouldtown, in Cumberland county, was an important early black community. Appropriately, it is the site of one of the most interesting black churches, Trinity AME. A traditional meetinghouse in the style of the Springfield Presbyterian church, it was erected about 1860.
SOURCE: ZION BAPTIST CHURCH, MT. PISGAH AME AND GOLUDTOWN, 1999

SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH (1895), FREEHOLD, NJ
The Second Baptist Church was birthed into ministry in 1895 in the house of Deacon David Paterson. Those dedicated to the ministry also included John Simmons, Marshall Simmons, Joseph Baskerville, Thomas Baskerville, John Jones, Richard Ward and many women who worked with them. When the mission grew and a larger facility was needed, a building was rented on Mechanic Street. By 1897, the Second Baptist Church was officially organized. In July 1899, Brothers Walter A. Mosely, John Jones, Edward Lewis, Edward Simmons, and Joseph Smith filed for incorporation papers. In 1904, the first church building was erected on Throckmorton Street and the church called its first pastor, Reverend D.H. Mitchell.
SOURCE: SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH, 2001

ST. THOMAS EPISCOPAL CHURCH (1891), RED BANK, NJ
Bishop Scarborough reported to the Diocesan Convention of 1892 on the founding of St. Thomas Chapel on December 21, 1891. The Durham family who built the church was prominent members of Trinity Episcopal Church where the Elder Thomas Durham was a lay reader. The family owned a considerable amount of property in the vicinity of Catherine Street where they built the church named for St. Thomas the Apostle. The intent was that this church would function as a daughter chapel to Trinity with Reverend Robert McKellar, the rector of Trinity, in charge.

It is not clear why, but the chapel fell into disuse after a few years. By this time, a group of Black Episcopalians had begun meeting in Red Bank. They applied for and were granted permission by the Bishop to use the chapel for worship, and were greatly assisted in this effort by Fr. A.E. Jenson of St. Augustine's, Asbury Park, as well as by Fr. McKellar. After this reorganization, the first service was held on June 9, 1907.

A year later, during a large service to celebrate the first anniversary of St. Thomas’s reorganization and revival, Mrs. Durham presented the congregation with the deed for the land and building. The church lot was a frame structure described as "Modified Gothic." The lot and building were valued at $4,000 and were debt free.

Though originally started as a church for White people, it was as a predominantly Black congregation that St. Thomas took root and grew. In fact, many Black churches and other social institutions were either started or revitalized in this area during these years, including a number of other predominantly Black parishes in the Diocese such as St. Augustine's in Camden, 1889, and St. Augustine's in Asbury Park, 1890. This occurred because there was a large scale migration of Black people into New Jersey from the South between 1870 and 1910, many of whom were attracted to the shore area, particularly Long Branch and Asbury Park
SOURCE: ST. THOMAS EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 2001

REEVEYTOWN A.M.E.ZION CHURCH (1882) TINTON FALLS, NJ
Reeveytown was settled by the Reevey's and Richardson families in 1882. The first pastor was Rev. J.P. Thompson. The first funeral was that of Emiline Richardson, March 3, 1890, at the age of seventy years young. The first wedding was Miss. Georgina Reevey to Mr. DuBoise. the first Sunday School Superintendent was Hannah Richardson. According to tradition, one of the early settlers of the area was Issac Reevey Richardson, a Cherokee Indian Chief who migrated from North Carolina. The town's name originated from
the large families of Reeveys.

There were many large families of Reeveys in the area: and, it was known as Reeveytown. Elsie Reevey provided a piece of ground to build a church on Shafto Road. The church didn't have a deed. So, John Brown and Leonard Sammons, (Both now deceased). Brought property in Reeveytown, including the property where the church was located, and gave the church a deed. Reeveytown Church is a Christian Monument to the Reeveys and Richardson families.

Camp Meetings was one of the outstanding Autumn's events in Reeveytown, that neighbors, friends and relatives came from miles around on their horses and wagons to attend the yearly event. Quite a few people didn't know where Reeveytown was until the meat shortage. During World 11, meats were rationed. There was an Abattoir in Reeveytown and anyone could get all the meats they wanted. Many people inquired where Reeveytown was, and since then it’s been put on the map as an historical land mark in the State of New Jersey.

In October 1994, the white shingled church with its red front door, built by members of the community in 1882, was demolished to make room for the expansion of the nearby Monmouth County Reclamation Center. Even though the original church building is now gone, the congregation is sitting on a new site at Shafto Road. Down through the years; from 1882 to present, are some of the known Ministers that faithfully served at Reeveytown:

• Rev. J.P. Thompson Rev. J. Carr Rev. C.L. Clemons
• Rev. K.F. Butler Rev. Black Rev. Hogan
• Rev. Johnson Rev. Murphy Rev. J.E. Kelley (Second Term)
• Rev. P. Hicks Rev. J.E. Kelley Rev. I.H. Greene
• Rev. Lewis Rev. Ramsey Rev. Edward Starks to Present
• Rev. Robert Rev. Butlerworth

SOURCE: REEVEYTOWN A.M.E. ZION CHURCH, 2001

BISHOP RICHARD ALLEN (1760-1831), FOUNDER OF MOTHER
BETHAL A.M.E. CHURCH PHILADELPHIA, PA

Richard Allen, the first bishop of the A.M.E. Church, was born February 14, 1760, enslaved by a Benjamin Chew of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At an early age, he with his father, mother and three other children, was sold into the state of Delaware, where, on a farm in the neighborhood of Dover, he was brought up. About 1777, he was converted and soon afterwards, about 1780, he began to preach. His religion was of such a genuine sort that it affected every department of his life. As a result his owner permitted prayer meetings and preaching in his house, and was converted himself. The slaveowner showed his conversion by making it possible for his slaves to become free. Accordingly Richard Allen and his brother bought their freedom for $2,000.00 continental money.

Now a free man, Richard Allen began working for himself, cutting cord wood; earning $50 (continental money) a month in a brick yard, working as a day laborer and then as a teamster hauling salt during the Revolutionary War from Rehobar, Sussex County, Delaware. During all of this time, he preached whenever he could. After he had acquired experience, he began to travel from place to place preaching. Like the apostle Paul, he worked with his hands for his own support as he preached. In the fall of 1783, he was in Wilmington, Delaware. Later and until spring of 1784, he traveled and preached in New Jersey, after which he traveled and preached in Pennsylvania.

In February 1786, he came to Philadelphia and preached at St. George's Methodist Church and at different places in that city where there was a large colored population. It was out of St. George's Church that Allen and his followers marched. This was the protest and in March which caused the birth of African Methodism. "On June 6, 1831 Bishop Richard Allen died and went to heaven, to meet God." (For more on Richard Allen and Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church, see Slavery in Pennsylvania.)
 SOURCE:MOTHER BETHEL A.M.E. CHURCH, 2004

ROSSVILLE A.M.E. ZION CHURCH (1824), STATEN ISLAND, NY
The town of Sandy Ground in Staten Island, New York, formed in the early 1800s by Black oyster fishermen who were fleeing the restrictive laws of the State of Maryland. These oyster fishermen and their families joined with freed slaves from Staten Island, Manhattan and New Jersey to form the town of Sandy Ground. Sandy Ground grew and became the center of economic and social life for Blacks living on the Eastern Seaboard. The Rossville A.M.E. Zion Church was formed shortly after the arrival of the oystermen. The church still functions as an active religious center in the community.
(For more about Sandy Ground, see Slavery in New York.)
SOURCE: ROSSVILLE A.M.E. ZION CHURCH, 2004