A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TREMONT BAPTIST CHURCH
(The Home of Friendly Cheer in
New York City)
The Tremont Baptist Church was formally
organized on April 9, 1884. The Church was born out of the Mount
Hope Mission, which began in the home of Mrs. Dora Smith, Bronx, New
York. Later, the Church moved to Mount Hope Chapel at 176th Street
and Monroe Avenue, then to Washington Avenue between 175th and 176th
Streets. The Church moved to the present site in 1903.
There were 23 founding members including
the Rev. Frank Fletcher who was the first Pastor serving from 1874
to 1886. Following Rev. Fletcher are Rev. A. F. Perry (1886-1892),
Rev. Jonathan Bastow (1893-1898), Rev. Dr. Alvah E. Knapp (1898-1907),
Rev. Kenneth C. McArthur (1908-1913), Rev. Edwin Husted (1914-1919), Rev.
Lester Simon (1919-1950), Rev. John Shade Franklin (1951-1964), Rev.
Thomas L. Ruland (1964-1971), Rev. Dr. John Robinson, Jr. (1971-1976),
Rev. Sylvanus Jarrett (1976-present).
On February 8, 2000, the Landmarks
Preservation Commission designated the Tremont Baptist Church an official
New York City Landmark.
The mission of the Church is to
preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, under God, grounded in the Holy Scriptures-
the Bible, in season and out of season. The Church seeks to worship
God in Spirit and in truth. It is the desire of each member to
love God, to love one another, and to serve the Lord with gladness.
Various groups in the Church exercise
their ministries for the benefit of the church and community. These
auxiliary groups are: the Board of Deacons and Deaconesses, the Board
of Trustees, the Sunday School, the Mission Board, the Pastor’s Aid Ministry,
the Usher Board, the Senior Choir, the Gospel Choir, the Golden Gems (Youth
Choir), the Youth Choir, the Women’s Soceity, the Men’s Club, the Flower
Club, the Youth Fellowship, the Willing Workers, the Nurse’s Unit, and
the Love Fellowship.
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